KATHMANDU: The minimum temperature in the Kathmandu Valley rose on Tuesday morning, continuing a gradual warming trend as winter nears its end.

According to the Weather Forecasting Division, a preliminary reading taken at 5:45am recorded the capital’s minimum temperature at 11.5°C. Officials noted that this figure is an early observation and could change slightly, as the official minimum is measured later at 8:45am.

On Monday, the preliminary minimum stood at 9.0°C and remained unchanged in the final measurement. Temperatures in recent days have fluctuated, with 9.1°C on Sunday, 7.5°C on Saturday and 12°C on Friday.

Meteorologists say night-time cloud cover often leads to warmer mornings by preventing heat from escaping, while clear skies allow temperatures to fall further. During the day, the pattern reverses, with cloudy conditions typically keeping temperatures lower and sunshine pushing them up.

Despite these daily variations, forecasters say overall temperatures are slowly rising, signalling the seasonal transition away from winter.