  Extreme rainfall is one of the major causes of natural hazards (for example
flood, landslide, and debris flow) in the central Himalayan region, Nepal. The
performance of strategies to manage these risks relies on the accuracy of
quantitative rainfall estimates. Rain gauges have traditionally been used to
measure the amount of rainfall at a given location. The point measurement often
misrepresents the basin estimates, because of limited density and high spatial
variability of rainfall fields across the Himalayas. The Department of
Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), Nepal has planned to install a network of
three weather radars that cover the entire country. So far, the first weather
radar has been installed in 2019 in the western region of the country. Two more
radars will be added for the planned radar network in the near future covering
the central and eastern regions of the country. Here we introduce the first
installed weather radar in Nepal. We highlight both the opportunities and
challenges with the radar observation in the mountainous regions. Radar
rainfall estimates across the Himalayas are critical to issue severe weather
warnings; forecast floods and landslides; and inform decision making in a broad
range of sectors, including water and energy, construction, transportation, and
agriculture.
