Bay depression whips up rainfall across Bangladesh

Many parts of the country are experiencing light to moderate rain which is likely to continue for the next 24 hours due to a depression over the Bay, the Met Office said Friday.

The weather office said 44mm rainfall was recorded in Dhaka in the last 24 hours till 6am on Friday. The highest amount of rain, 254mm, has been recorded in Khepupara of Barishal district.

“The well-marked low over the northwest Bay and adjoining west central Bay moved northwestwards and intensified subsequently into a depression, afterwards deep depression and then depression over the North-west Bay and adjoining area,” the Met Office said in a buletin.

At 9am, it moved northeastwards over the same area and is likely to move in a Northeasterly direction further.

South-west monsoon has withdrawn from north-western part of Bangladesh and conditions are favourable for further withdrawal from the remaining part of the country, the Met Office said. Monsoon is strong elsewhere over the North Bay.

Light to moderate rain and thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at most places over Dhaka, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna, Barishal, Chattrogram and Sylhet divisions, the weather bulletin said.

Heavy (44-88mm) to very heavy (89 mm) rainfall is likely to occur at places over Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions during next 48 hours commencing 10am on Thursday.

Day and night temperatures may fall by (2-4)°C over the country.

Maritime Signal

The Met Office on Friday advised maritime ports to hoist local cautionary signal number 4 and warned that low-lying coastal areas could be inundated by tidal surges of three to five feet height above the normal astronomical tide under the depression’s influence.

Areas that could see tidal surges are Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barisal, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni, Chittagong and their offshore islands and chars.

All fishing boats and trawlers over the North Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain in shelter until further notice.

source: UNB