A depression formed over the Bay of Bengal has brought widespread rainfall across Bangladesh, including the capital Dhaka, on Saturday, marking what many described as ‘November Rain’.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), Dhaka recorded 32 mm of rainfall between afternoon and 6 pm, while the highest rainfall of the day, 166 mm, was recorded in Tarash upazila of Sirajganj.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall occurred in five divisions, Dhaka, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Rajshahi and Rangpur, while light to moderate rain or thundershowers were reported in parts of Chattogram, Khulna and Barishal divisions.

On Saturday (Nov 1), the first day of the month, Dhaka’s sky remained cloudy since noon. By late afternoon, dark clouds blanketed the city, and drizzle soon turned into a heavy downpour around 5 pm.

Vehicles switched on headlights well before the evening early as streets darkened, and many commuters were caught unprepared without umbrellas, causing suffering to office-goers on their way home.

BMD said the well-marked low over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining areas moved northeastward and weakened into a low-pressure area over West Bengal and nearby regions. It is expected to continue weakening gradually.

Maritime ports in Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to lower all warning signals.

The Met Office also forecast that another low-pressure area may form over the east-central Bay of Bengal within the next 48 hours.

Day and night temperatures across the country may drop slightly.

In its 120-hour forecast issued at 6 pm Saturday, meteorologist Dr Abul Kalam Mallik said, “Light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely at many places in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, and Sylhet divisions, and at a few places in Khulna, Barishal, and Chattogram divisions. Moderate to heavy rainfall may occur in some areas, and temperatures may drop slightly.

In the next 24 hours, light to moderate rain or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, and at one or two places in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, and Barishal divisions.

Day temperature is likely to remain nearly unchanged, while night temperature may drop slightly.

On Monday (Nov 3), a few places in Chattogram division may experience rain or thundershowers, while the rest of the country will likely see partly cloudy to mainly dry weather. Temperatures may rise slightly.

On Tuesday (Nov 4), light rain is expected in Chattogram, Barishal, and Sylhet divisions, with dry weather elsewhere. Day temperature may remain unchanged, and night temperature may rise slightly.

By Wednesday (Nov 5), rain or thundershowers are likely in parts of Khulna, Barishal, Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions, and at one or two places in Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Mymensingh divisions. Day temperature may fall slightly, while night temperature will likely remain steady.

The five-day extended forecast suggests that the rainfall trend may decrease gradually.