Chilling cold follow rainfall; another cold wave likely

Rainfall was experienced across Bangladesh on Friday, Feb 04 2022.

Dhaka, Feb 04 - Rainfall experienced across Bangladesh on Friday increased the bite of cold as the difference between the maximum day temperature and the minimum night temperature came down. Meteorologists have said that another cold wave is likely to follow the downpour.

With the end of winter on Bangla calendar only nine days away, mercury is set to slide as Dhaka and many other parts of the country are experiencing rains under the influence of a trough of westerly low after a cold wave. 

Streets usually remain emptier on weekend, but people who went out on Friday had to contend with the rains with gusts amid winter cold.

Meteorologist Omor Faruque said temperature increased for two days after the spell of cold, but the mercury may begin dropping again on Sunday once it stops raining.

On Friday, the lowest temperature was recorded 8.5 degrees Celsius in Tetulia. Dhaka’s minimum temperature was 18 degrees Celsius.

Rajshahi reported 17 millimetres of rain. In Bogura, the authorities recorded 23mm rainfall in the two hours from 10am. Dinajpur experienced 30.3mm rainfall from 5am to 9am.

In Saturday’s forecast, Bangladesh Meteorological Department said light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at many places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal and Sylhet divisions and at a few places over Chattogram division with moderately heavy falls at places over the country.

Light to moderate fog may occur over the country during midnight to morning.

Night temperature may remain nearly unchanged and day temperature may fall by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius over the country.

A week ago, the mercury dropped to 6.1 degrees Celsius in Kurigram as a cold wave swept over northern Bangladesh for five days.

The Meteorological Department said hailstorm with thunder shower may occur by the end of February.

The northern districts of Bangladesh experienced chilling cold following moderate rainfall amid blowing stronger winds forcing people to stay indoors throughout the day Friday.

The maximum temperatures marked sharp falls by six to eight degrees

Celsius due to the rains reducing gaps between maximum and minimum

temperatures to the minimum during the past 24 hours ending at 6 pm

sharply deteriorating weather today.

According to the Met Office sources, the rainfalls recorded during the past nine hours from 6 am to 3 pm today were 34mm at Rangpur, 41mm at Dinajpur, 22mm at Saidpur, 7mm at Tentulia, 22mm at Dimla and 29mm at Rajarhat points in the region.

Although the maximum temperature ranged between 21.6 degrees

Celsius and 25.1 degrees Celsius on Thursday, the same dropped sharply

and ranged between 15.5 degrees and 18 degrees Celsius on Friday (Friday)

in the northern region.

The highest temperatures recorded today in the region were 15.5 degrees Celsius at Rangpur, 16.1 degrees at Dinajpur, 18 degrees at Saidpur, 16.4 degrees at Tentulia, 15.8 degrees at Dimla and 17.6 degrees Celsius at Rajarhat points in the region.

Meanwhile, the lowest temperature of 11.2 degrees Celsius in the country was recorded today at Tentulia point in Panchagarh district.

Besides, the minimum temperatures recorded today were 14.3 degrees Celsius at Rangpur, 13.7 degrees Celsius at Dinajpur, 15 degrees at Saidpur, 14.5 degrees Celsius at Dimla and 13.5 degrees Celsius at Rajarhat points in the region.

Incessant rains and drizzles amid densely cloudy air apparently gave most parts of the region a darker look throughout the day today. 

Though the rainfalls stopped in the afternoon, blowing winds increased the intensity of cold causing immense sufferings to people, especially of those living particularly on the char and riverine areas on Friday.

Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh Mamunur Rashid said the weather has been behaving peculiarly as a result of climate change causing uncertainty to all sectors, including agriculture.

"The today's rainfalls in the winter caused a chilling cold, again proving that the changing climate has been creating a grave concern to weather, agriculture, environment, biodiversity, public health and all other sectors," Rashid added.

Divisional Director (Health) Dr. Abu Md. Zakirul Islam said the doctors continued to treat higher number of people with cough, fever, asthma and other cold- related diseases at the health facilities despite a sharp deterioration in the weather today.

"We have adequate stock of medicines and special steps were taken at the government-run hospitals and other health facilities to treat the increasing number of cold-related patients," he added.

Divisional Commissioner (General) Md. Abdul Wahhab Bhuiyan informed that distribution of a huge quantity of warm clothes allocated by the government

continues among cold- hit distressed people elsewhere in the northern region.

Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension for Rangpur region Md. Mahbubur Rahman said information was being collected from field levels if any damage was caused to the growing Rabi crop plants in the region. – News Desk