weather
Rain brings respite in Dhaka after sizzling heat
A heavy bout of rainfall brought much-awaited relief in Dhaka city Monday night after a week of a heatwave that scorched parts of the country.
Thunder and lightning started to rumble in the skies over Dhaka from 8pm. The rain started around 8:45pm, giving Dhaka residents some relief from the scorching heat, and continued to drench the city for several hours.
Also, apart from the capital, it rained in several districts across Bangladesh including the coastal areas.
A sweeping heatwave and increased humidity in the capital and other parts of Bangladesh has had people yearning for rain for the last few days. At around 5.30pm Monday, the temperature in Dhaka was 36 degrees Celsius but it felt like 44 degrees Celsius.
Read: Rain brings relief to Dhaka dwellers
The country's maximum temperature – 38.5 degrees Celsius – was recorded in Shitakunda in the last 24 hours. The mercury in Dhaka rose as high as 38.1 degrees Celsius. However, the country's highest rainfall – 35mm – was recorded in Kutubdia till 6pm today.
The effects of Cyclone Yaas is yet to be felt in Bangladesh. The country could face the aftermath of the storm, brewing over the Bay of Bengal, Tuesday evening.
The local weather caused the rain and it had nothing to do with Yaas. Also, the temperature may drop further from Tuesday with rains and thundershowers, experts said.
Earlier, the Met Office Monday predicted light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind at places over Rangpur, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions.
A mild to moderate heatwave is sweeping over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, and it might abate in some places due to rain, it added.
The Met Office earlier in the day confirmed that the deep depression over the east-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas had moved west-northwest and turned into Cyclone Yaas, which is hurtling towards India at a speed of four kilometres per hour in a north-northwesterly direction.
Maritime ports asked to hoist Cautionary Signal 1
The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra were asked to hoist distant Cautionary Signal 1 on Friday.
Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said a low pressure area has formed over the East Central Bay and adjoining area.
“It is likely to intensify into a depression and further into a Deep Depression and then into a Cyclonic Storm,” the Met Office bulletin said.
It also urged the fishermen not to venture into the deep sea and advised those who are already in the deep sea to return to the coast by May 23.
Meanwhile, the BMD has forecast rains or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds for parts of Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and one or two areas in Rajshahi and Dhaka divisions, as well as Jashore, Kushtia Cumilla and Noakhali.
The weather may remain mainly dry elsewhere in the country.
A moderate heatwave is sweeping over parts of Bangladesh, including Dhaka, Khulna and Barishal divisions. It may continue, according to the weather forecast.
Day and night temperatures are likely to remain unchanged.
Cyclone brewing over Andaman Sea 'may hit Bangladesh coast'
A low pressure area is brewing over the North Andaman Sea and the adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal, which could intensify into a cyclonic storm, the Met office has said.
The storm is then likely to move north-westwards and reach the Odisha-West Bengal-Khulna coast around 26 May (Wednesday), according to the weather department.
Fishermen have been advised not to go deep into sea. Those who are already there should return to the coast by Sunday (May 23), as per a special bulletin of the Met department.
According to the regular bulletin of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, a low pressure area is very likely to form over the North Andaman Sea and the adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal in the next 24 hours.
A trough of westerly low lies over West Bengal and adjoining areas, extending up to North Bay, it said.
Also read: Severe cyclone heading toward southern India; 6 dead
Rains or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds are likely to hit some places in Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and one or two areas in Rajshahi and Dhaka divisions, as well as the regions of Jashore, Kushtia Cumilla and Noakhali.
Weather may remain mainly dry elsewhere in the country.
Also read: Cyclone Mary Ann: Recounting tales of horror, 30 years on
Several parts of Bangladesh -- including Dhaka, Khulna and Barishal divisions -- are currently witnessing a mild to moderate heat wave and it may continue, according to the weather department.
Day and night temperatures are likely to remain unchanged in the country.
Cyclonic storm likely to hit Khulna coasts around May 26: BMD
A low pressure area is very likely to form over the North Andaman Sea and adjoining East-central Bay of Bengal which may intensify into a cyclonic storm and hit the Khulna coastal region around May 26, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said in a forecast Thursday.
The cyclonic storm is likely to move northwestward after forming and reach near Odhisha-West Bengal of India and Khulna coasts of Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, a mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna and Barishal divisions and areas in Sitakunda, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni and Sreemangal. It may continue, says the weather forecast commencing 6pm today.
However, an extended outlook for five days following the probable three days of forming the low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal forecasts an increase in the rain/storm activity.
Indian navy searches for 78 missing from barge sunk by storm
Indian navy ships and helicopters searched in extreme weather and rough seas Wednesday for 78 people still missing from a barge that sank off Mumbai as a deadly cyclone blew ashore this week.
Navy Cdr. Alok Anand said 183 people were rescued within 24 hours by the three ships and helicopters engaged in the operation.
A survivor told the New Delhi Television news channel that he jumped into the sea with his life jacket and was later picked up by the navy.
In another operation, a navy helicopter rescued 35 crew members of another barge, GAL Constructor, which ran aground north of Mumbai, a government statement said.
Read:India scours sea after barge sinks, 2nd adrift after cyclone
Both barges were working for Oil and Natural Gas Corp., the largest crude oil and natural gas company in India.
The company said the barges were carrying personnel deployed for offshore drilling and their anchors gave away during the storm.
Cyclone Tauktae, the most powerful storm to hit the region in more than two decades, packed sustained winds of up to 210 kilometers (130 miles) per hour when it came ashore in Gujarat state late Monday. The storm left at least 25 dead in Gujarat and Maharashtra states.
The Hindu newspaper Wednesday tallied more than 16,000 houses damaged in Gujarat state and trees and power poles uprooted.
The cyclone has weakened into a depression centered over the south of Rajasthan state and adjoining Gujarat region, a statement by the Indian Meteorological Department said on Wednesday.
In Nepal, authorities on Tuesday asked mountaineers to descend from high altitudes because the storm system may bring severe weather.
Hundreds of climbers, guides and staff are on various mountains in Nepal, trying to climb the peaks this month when weather is usually most favorable in the high altitudes. Nepal has eight of the world’s 14 highest peaks, including Mount Everest.
Read:Powerful cyclone hits land in India amid deadly virus surge
The Department of Tourism in a statement Tuesday asked climbers and outfitting agencies to monitor the weather and stay safe.
In 2014, snowstorms and avalanches triggered by a cyclone in India killed 43 people in Nepal’s mountains in the worst hiking disaster in the Himalayan nation.
The snowstorms were believed to be whipped by the tail end of a cyclone that hit the Indian coast a few days earlier.
The blizzards swept through the popular Annapurna trekking route and hikers were caught off-guard when the weather changed quickly.
Rain may dampen Eid celebrations
The Met Office has forecast light to moderate rain all over the country during the day of Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of Muslims.
Bangladesh Meteorological Department made the forecast with an outlook for the subsequent two days, following the next 24 hours, commencing 6pm Tuesday.
“Light to moderate rain/thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty/squally wind is likely to occur at many places over Dhaka, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions,” it said.
Also read: How to celebrate EID safely during COVID-19 pandemic
Some parts of the country might see moderately heavy to heavy falls in the next 24 hours, the Met Office said.
Its forecast said rain and thunder shower activities may decrease in the next five days.
The National Moon Sighting Committee will meet on Wednesday evening to fix the date of Eid-ul-Fitr upon sighting of Shawwal moon.
Also read: Celebrate Eid where you are: PM Hasina
Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia Eid will be observed on May 13, according to astronomical calculations. This is the first time Saudi announces the date of the Islamic calendar using astronomic technology rather than the traditional visual sighting of the moon.
Nor’wester with rain soothes the city
Nor’wester with thunder, slight hailstorm and long awaited rain shower soothed the Dhaka city and other divisions of the country around 9pm on Sunday.
After a weeklong severe heat wave sweeping across the country the rain shower accompanied by squally winds came as a boon to the city dwellers.
Many parts of Dhaka city have faced short power cuts as the southerly wind swept across the city, temporarily gusting to 30-40 Kph from 10-15 Kph.
Also read: 12 killed in Gaibandha, Faridpur as nor’wester lashes country
Bangladesh Meteorological Department made the forecast of likelihood of Dhaka and seven other divisions witnessing rain in the next 24 hours, commencing at 9 am today.
“Rain/thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty/squally wind is likely to occur at a few places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions,” it said.
Also read: Nor’wester sweeps Joypurhat; 4 killed
Mild heat waves were sweeping over different parts of the country including Dhaka.
It was also sweeping over Khulna division and the regions of Dhaka, Faridpur, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Rangamati, Noakhali and Feni and it may abate from some places, said the Met office bulletin.
Rain, thundershowers likely
The Met office in Dhaka on Thursday predicted rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind likely to occur at some places over the country.
“Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dhaka, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and the regions of Kushtia and Cumilla,” said a Met office bulletin issued on Tuesday at 9am.
Also Read: Rain, thundershowers likely
The weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country, it added.
Mild to moderate heatwave is sweeping over Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal and Dhaka divisions and the regions of Rangamati, Sitakunda, Cumilla, Feni, Noakhali, Srimangal and Dinajpur and it may abate from some places, said the Met office.
Day temperature may fall slightly and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.
Also Read: Year's first rain causes sufferings to city dwellers
The maximum temperature was recorded 39.3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday at Rajshahi while Dhaka experienced 37.1 degrees Celsius.
Nor'wester coming, likely to hit five divisions
A nor'wester is likely to lash parts of Bangladesh, including Dhaka, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said in an update Wednesday.
The update on the BMD app, sent around 10pm, said to expect rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally winds, or Kalbaishakhi, "in the next 3-4 hours."
A heatwave is sweeping over Sitakunda, Rangamati, Cumilla, Maijdee Court, Feni, Rajshahi, Pabna; and Dhaka, Rangpur, Khulna, Barishal and Sylhet divisions.
Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind or Kalbhaishaki is likely to sweep over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and Cumilla in the next 24 hours, the BMD said earlier.
Nor'wester or the Kalbaishakhi occurs in India and Bangladesh, often with violent hurricane-speed winds and the pre-monsoon nor'wester is caused by heavy convection for excessive heat.
A severe Nor'wester hit Dhaka and northwestern Bangladesh on April 4, 2015, leaving a trail of destruction – killing at least 24 people and injuring hundreds, uprooting countless trees and flattening many tin built houses and mud-built houses and snapping road and rail communication with affected areas.
Another danger that has come to the fore in recent years is lightning accompanying the nor'westers, that have taken scores of lives in recent years. In 2016, 42 people were killed in a single day of nor'westers across the country.
No respite from soaring mercury
The people are not getting any respite from the heatwave sweeping across the country at least in the next two days, says the Met Office.
A mild to moderate heatwave is sweeping over Dhaka, Sylhet, Rangpur, Khulna and Barishal divisions and the regions of Sitakunda, Rangamati, Cumilla, Feni, Rajshahi and Pabna and it may abate from some part of the country.
Issued at 9 am on Wednesday, the bulletin forecasts that day temperature may remain nearly unchanged and night temperature may rise slightly over the country.
A trough of low lies over West Bengal and adjoining area, it said.
Rain/thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and the districts of Kishoreganj and Cumilla.
The weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country, said the report.
But the Met office’s five-day outlook says that there may be rain or thundershowers, and the day temperature may also fall.
The maximum temperature was recorded 38.5 degrees Celsius on Tuesday at Srimangal while Dhaka experienced 38 degrees Celsius.