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Government of Nepal started hydrological and meteorological activities in an organized way in 1962. The activities were initiated as a section under the Department of Electricity. The section was subsequently transferred to the Department of Irrigation and Department Irrigation, Hydrology and Meteorology was formed. Later on in 1988, a separate department of Hydrology and Meteorology was established.
The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) is an organization under the Ministry of Environment, Government of Nepal. The department with headquarter in Kathmandu has three basin offices under Hydrological Network Section namely Karnali Basin Office in Nepalganj, Narayani Basin Office in Narayanghat and Kosi Basin Office in Biratnagar and three regional offices under Meteorological Network Division namely Mid and Far Western Regional Office at Surkhet, Western Regional Office at Pokhara and Eastern Regional Office at Dharan.
DHM has a mandate from Government of Nepal to monitor all the hydrological and meteorological activities in Nepal. No agency is entitled to carry out such activities without a proper liaison with DHM. The scope of work includes the monitoring of river hydrology, climate, agro-meteorology, sediment, air quality, water quality, limnology, snow hydrology, glaciology, wind and solar energy. DHM provides general and aviation weather forecasts, forecasting and early warning of hydro-meteorological hazards; and contributes to the global exchange of meteorological data on a regular basis as a member of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
DHM actively participates in the programs of relevant international organizations, such as, the UNESCO's International Hydrological Program (IHP) and WMO's Operational Hydrology Program (OHP). In the past, DHM has hosted several regional and international workshops, symposia, seminars and meetings on different aspects of meteorology, hydrology, sediment, and snow hydrology. The department is also a focal point for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and for the meteorological activities of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC). The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has recognized DHM as an authority to provide meteorological services for international flights.
The Principal Activities DHM
- Collect and disseminate hydrological and meteorological information for water resources, agriculture, energy, and other development activities.
- Issue hydrological and meteorological forecasts for public, mountaineering expedition, civil aviation, and for the mitigation of natural disasters.
- Develop operational flood forecasting and early warning system for major flood prone rivers of Nepal.
- Conduct special studies required for the policy makers and for the development of hydrological and meteorological sciences in the region.
- Promote relationship with national and international organizations in the field of hydrology and meteorology.
The Director General heads DHM. The present Organizational Chart has four divisions headed by Deputy Director Generals: Hydrology Division, Climatology Division, Meteorological Forecasting Division and Meteorological Network Division. Hydrology Division has five major sections: Hydrological Network Section, Flood Forecasting Section, Snow, Water Quality and Environment Section, Hydrological Data Management Section and Technical Relation and Arrangement Section. Similarly, the sections under the Climatology Division include: Climatology Section, Agro-meteorology Section, Instruments Section and Meteorological Data Management Section. The Meteorological Forecasting Division has three main units: the Communication Unit, Aviation Unit, and General Weather Forecast Unit.
Meteorological Network Division is primarily responsible for operation and maintenance of nationwide meteorological stations network. It has the three regional offices and the Planning and Network Section at central office.
The Principal Activities Flood Forecasting Project
- Establish, operate and manage flood forecasting stations and upgrade them with real time telemetry system.
- Assess hazards, vulnerabilities and risks due to floods in major river basins.
- Develop river flow forecasting models for major rivers of Nepal.
- Establish flood early warning systems on major flood prone rivers of Nepal.
- Prepare manuals and guidelines for flood early warning systems.
- Coordinate with national, regional and international organizations involved in disaster risk management.