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| Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (Nepal) | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Department of Hydrology and Meteorology |
| Native name | जलविज्ञान तथा मौसम विज्ञान विभाग |
| Formed | 1965 |
| Jurisdiction | Kathmandu, Bagmati Province, Nepal |
| Headquarters | Kathmandu |
| Parent agency | Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (Nepal) |
Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (Nepal)
The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) is the primary national agency responsible for hydrological and meteorological observation, forecasting, research, and hazard warning in Nepal. Located in Kathmandu, DHM provides services to institutions such as the Nepal Army, Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal), Tribhuvan University, and international partners including the World Meteorological Organization and the Asian Development Bank. The department supports sectors represented by Nepal Electricity Authority, Agriculture Development Corporation, and Department of Water Resources and Irrigation through data, forecasts, and technical guidance.
DHM traces institutional roots to observational efforts during the Rana dynasty era and the establishment of modern meteorological services influenced by British India practices and the Indian Meteorological Department. Formal organization occurred in 1965 under directives linked to agencies such as Royal Nepalese Government ministries and later reforms following the 1990 People's Movement (Nepal). Over subsequent decades DHM expanded networks in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, while responding to major events like the 1988 Nepal floods and the 2015 Nepal earthquake that highlighted needs for integrated hydrometeorological services. Institutional evolution included adoption of standards from the World Meteorological Organization and cooperation frameworks developed with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development.
DHM is organized into technical divisions and regional centers mirroring administrative zones such as Province No. 1, Gandaki Province, and Karnali Province. Central divisions include the Meteorological Services Division, Hydrology Division, Forecasting and Warning Section, and Data Management Unit, with field offices co-located with agencies like the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation and provincial authorities including Bagmati Province. Leadership reports to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (Nepal) and coordinates with institutions such as National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (Nepal), Nepal Police, and academic partners like Pokhara University. Technical staffing includes hydrologists, meteorologists, and technicians trained through collaborations with Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, University of Tokyo, and ICIMOD programs.
DHM’s mandated responsibilities encompass continuous observation for river discharge at gauging stations in basins such as the Koshi River, Gandaki River, and Karnali River; meteorological observation across stations including high-altitude sites in the Himalayas; issuance of weather forecasts used by Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal and agricultural agencies like Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (Nepal). The department issues hydrological bulletins, flood advisories affecting districts like Sunsari District and Banke District, and seasonal outlooks used by infrastructure stakeholders such as Nepal Electricity Authority and Department of Roads (Nepal). DHM also maintains national climatological records and contributes data to regional products produced by organizations such as Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES).
DHM operates a network of meteorological observatories, automated weather stations, and river gauging sites linked to telemetry systems, with data assimilation pipelines aligned with standards from the World Meteorological Organization. Observational platforms include synoptic stations, automatic weather stations in locations like Jomsom, and high-altitude observatories reflecting work in areas accessed by Sagarmatha National Park expeditions. Services include real-time rainfall, temperature, wind, and river stage data feeds consumed by agencies such as Nepal Telecom for dissemination, and archived climatologies used by researchers at Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University. DHM provides forecast products employing numerical weather prediction models adapted from centers like the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and engages in quality control consistent with protocols used by the WMO Regional Association II.
Research priorities at DHM have included glacio-hydrology studies in basins influenced by glaciers in the Koshi River and Arun River catchments, monsoon dynamics relevant to users such as Department of Agriculture, and hydrological modeling for reservoir operations used by Kulekhani Hydropower Station. Programmatic work has been funded through collaborations with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and projects under UNEP and UNDP, focusing on climate change impact assessment, station upgrades, and community-based monitoring in riverine districts like Morang District. DHM scientists publish findings with partners such as ICIMOD and participate in multinational initiatives including the Himalayan Climate and Water Atlas efforts.
DHM plays a central role in early warning systems for floods, landslides, and extreme weather impacting municipalities such as Biratnagar and Pokhara. Warning dissemination pathways involve coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (Nepal), local governments under the Local Government Operation Act, 2017 (Nepal), and utilities like Nepal Electricity Authority to trigger preparedness actions. Historical responses to events such as the 2008 Koshi floods informed protocols for riverine forecasting and community alerting using radio, mobile SMS networks provided by Nepal Telecom, and partnerships with humanitarian actors like Nepal Red Cross Society.
DHM engages extensively with international partners including the World Meteorological Organization, Asian Development Bank, UNDP, JICA, and research centers like ICIMOD for capacity building, technology transfer, and joint studies. Training exchanges have involved institutions such as the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, University of Tokyo, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. DHM contributes observational data to global initiatives including the Global Climate Observing System and regional platforms like SERVIR while receiving technical assistance for modernization projects funded by the World Bank and bilateral donors.
Category:Government agencies of Nepal Category:Meteorological agencies