Kirtipur sits in one of Nepal’s mid-hill valleys, where a milder climate than the Terai plains still receives the bulk of its rainfall during the June-to-September monsoon.
On a hilltop within the Kathmandu Valley, the town’s elevated position gives it somewhat different drainage patterns than the valley floor. The Kathmandu Valley’s rapid, often unplanned urbanization has reduced natural drainage capacity, so intense monsoon downpours can cause serious urban flooding even though the valley’s rivers are relatively small, and radar helps track these fast-developing storms before they overwhelm city drainage. Learn more: Flash Flood Warning Signs on Radar · Open the full Rain Map