Weather
Low-Pressure Area over Bay of Bengal May Turn into Cyclone
After the onset of Kartik month, rainfall across Bangladesh has almost stopped, while temperature and heat intensity have risen noticeably. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) reports that a low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas has turned into a well-marked low.
According to the Met Office, the system may intensify further and has the potential to develop into a cyclone. It could bring isolated rain in some areas.
Meteorologist Bazlur Rashid told Kalbela that the well-marked low may develop into a depression by Wednesday. “It is still uncertain whether it will turn into a cyclone, but since the monsoon season has ended, conditions over the sea are favorable for cyclone formation,” he said.
The weather bulletin added that the system currently remains over the same region, and its possible path or landfall area may be known by Wednesday.
In its latest 120-hour forecast, the BMD said that a few places in the Chattogram division might experience rain or thundershowers, while weather across the rest of the country is likely to remain mainly dry with partly cloudy skies. Day and night temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged.
A low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining regions has intensified into a depression and may further develop into a cyclonic storm named Mongtha, meaning “fragrant flower” in Thai, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
In a special weather bulletin (No. 1) issued on Saturday (October 25), the BMD reported that the depression was centered at 6 a.m. about 1,320 km south of Chattogram port, 1,245 km south of Cox’s Bazar, 1,320 km south of Mongla, and 1,270 km south of Payra port.
Within 44 kilometers of the depression’s center, the maximum sustained wind speed was recorded at 40 km per hour, with gusts reaching up to 50 km per hour. The sea around the area has become rough.
The Met office said the system is likely to move in a west-northwesterly direction and intensify into a cyclonic storm.
Authorities have advised Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra seaports to hoist distant cautionary signal No. 1. All fishing boats and trawlers operating in the North Bay and deep sea have been instructed to stay close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.
Bangladesh’s southwest monsoon is on the verge of withdrawal, marking the end of this year’s unusually long rainy season, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
Officials said the monsoon is expected to retreat completely within the next few days. Meanwhile, early signs of winter have already appeared in the northern district of Panchagarh, where light to heavy fog has begun to blanket roads and farmlands during early mornings.
The BMD’s October forecast indicates that the country may experience above-normal rainfall this month. Between three and six low-pressure systems are likely to form over the Bay of Bengal, one or two of which could intensify into depressions or cyclones.
The department also said that the southwest monsoon will withdraw gradually during the first half of October. During this period, Bangladesh may experience three to six days of moderate to heavy thundershowers and up to eight days of light to moderate rainfall.
While daytime and nighttime temperatures are expected to decrease gradually, they may still remain slightly above normal levels, the forecast added.
In the upcoming winter months, moderate to dense fog is likely to form over river basins and low-lying areas, particularly during late night and early morning hours. The BMD also predicts one to two mild cold waves across northern, northwestern, and central regions in December.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast rain and thunderstorms in parts of the country, including Dhaka, on Friday (October 10). Despite the rainfall, the weather is expected to remain humid and slightly uncomfortable.
According to the 7 a.m. forecast, the sky over Dhaka and nearby areas may remain partly cloudy to temporarily cloudy, with winds blowing from the south and southeast at speeds of 10–15 km per hour.
On Thursday, Dhaka and several other regions experienced rain, with 50 millimeters recorded in the capital over 24 hours. The maximum temperature in Dhaka was 29.5°C on Thursday, which dropped to 26°C on Friday morning. However, temperatures are likely to rise slightly during the day.
The Met Office added that the monsoon trough extends from eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal across southern Bangladesh to Assam. The monsoon is currently less active over Bangladesh and weak to moderate over the North Bay of Bengal.
Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds may occur in some places of Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions, and at a few places in Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions. Moderate to heavy rainfall is also likely in isolated areas across the country.
