Several Regions in Tibet Suffered Heavy Snow in Early October, 2013

According to the latest news released by the Weather Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region, Southern Shigatse Prefecture and Nagqu Prefecture will suffer heavy snow in the coming two days. Relevant departments in these regions are preparing to cope with the possible emergencies. Tourists planning to travel to Tibet in middle October should collect certain weather information from the local Tibet tour operators and make enough preparation for the trip.

Actually, certain parts in Southern Shigatse Prefecture started snowing since October 13th under the influence of the super cyclonic storm of Bengal Bay. 86 tourists were trapped at Mt. Everest Base Camp for the road was blocked by the heavy snow. To rescue the tourists as soon as possible, the local government has organized three groups to clear the snow emergently.

Moderate to heavy snow might attack Southern Shigatse Prefecture and Nagqu Prefecture between October 14th and 15th according to the information provided by the Weather Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region. There is heavy snow storm on the line between Middle Himalayas and Zhongba. Pagri will also be attacked with heavy snowstorm. There is middle snow between the Northern Qamdo Prefecture and Southern Shannan Prefecture. At the same time, Nyingchi Prefecture and Yarlung Zangbo River Basin have to face the light snow weather.

Tourists who've been to Tibet are always impressed by its lovely sunshine. Actually, it would get clear up in the morning even the night rainfall happens frequently in the rainy season between July and August. Most regions in Tibet have to welcome the rainy days since October 16th. Local civilizations and tourists in Shigatse Prefecture, Shannan Prefecture and Nagqu Prefecture should make preparation for the possible showery rain. For tourists interested in trekking and camping in the wild, it is necessary to prepare rainproof coat and tent.

The meteorologists in Tibet estimate that this heavy sudden snow and the follow-up rainfall would have adverse effects to the animal husbandry and transportation in Tibet. Relevant transportation departments should take certain preventive measures to cope with the possible land slide and collapse caused by the sudden heavy rainfall. For the consideration of safety, tourists are stronfly suggested to stay in Lhasa City before making sure that the road condition to Shigatse, Nyingchi or Nagqu are safe enough for driving on.

Tourists who've been to Tibet in different seasons would find that the weather in Tibet would get colder with the coming of October every year. The temperature difference between day and night would even reach 10-16 Celsius in Middle October. Hence, tourists planning to do some trekking activities in Tibet are strongly suggested to avoid the cold season between October and April of the next year. It is said that the best season for trekking in Tibet is between June and September for it would be relatively warmer in the night and the oxygen content in the air would be relatively higher during that period. Careful preparation is always necessary no matter you are planning to trek in which season in consideration of the challenging natural environment and special climate on Tibet Plateau.