Weather Radars Begin Operation in Palpa and Udayapur, Boosting Real-Time Monsoon Monitoring in Nepal

Two newly installed weather radars in Palpa and Udayapur have officially started operating, giving Nepal a major upgrade in real-time weather tracking during the monsoon season. These radars were set up by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology as part of a national effort to improve weather forecasting.

Deputy Director General of the department, Suman Kumar Regmi, confirmed that both radars have been running regularly since June 15. “The radars help us see what’s happening in the sky up to 250 kilometers away — including wind movement, water vapor, lightning, hail clouds, and storm direction — all in real time,” he explained.

Improved Forecasting and Risk Alerts

The Palpa radar is located at Ribdikot Hill, while the Udayapur radar is based at Chitre Danda. Both sites were selected for their elevation, which allows wider atmospheric coverage.

According to senior meteorologist Dr. Indira Kandel, radar data is more reliable than the information collected from automatic weather stations. “The radar sends real-time visuals directly to our computer systems. This helps us provide quicker alerts about rain, thunderstorms, hail, or snowfall — and reduce disaster risks,” she said.

The radar images are used not only for daily forecasting but also in research and in developing more accurate weather models.

Part of a National Plan

Each radar system cost around NPR 200 million and was purchased from the U.S.-based company Enterprise Electronics Corporation (EEC). The plan was to set up three radars to cover Nepal’s geography — one each in Palpa, Udayapur, and Surkhet. While the Palpa and Udayapur radars are operational, the Surkhet radar remains out of service due to technical damage from lightning and delays in repair.

Some Limitations Remain

Despite this progress, challenges continue. Radar waves can be blocked by mountains, which means valleys and areas behind tall hills may not be fully covered. Officials say smaller radars — such as X-band radars — may be needed to fill in those gaps.

There’s also a need for stable power supply, fuel backups, and trained staff like radar engineers and meteorologists to manage these advanced systems long-term.

Still, with the Palpa and Udayapur radars now live, Nepal has taken a big step forward in tracking monsoon weather events and protecting people from sudden natural disasters.