Kathmandu, March 22 -- People living in the Tarai are likely to have a difficult summer as both maximum and minimum temperatures could remain above average in the plains in the pre-monsoon season.

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, which issues seasonal forecasts of monsoon and winter, the chances of the pre-monsoon period remaining hot and dry are very high.

"Though we do not generally forecast weather conditions for the pre-monsoon months of March, April and June, various weather models show hot and dry days ahead," said Bibhuti Pokhrel, spokesperson for the department. "Like in the past year, the temperatures [minimum and maximum] are likely to remain above-average, and people in the Tarai region may face heatw...