Another cold wave likely from Saturday

The Met Office on Wednesday predicted that another cold wave was on its way while parts of Bangladesh are experiencing light rains.

The rains would continue till Thursday with the sky remaining cloudy largely across Bangladesh.

‘Temperatures would start falling again once the sky is cleared,’ weather forecaster AKM Nazmul Haque told New Age.

 A mild to moderate cold wave might sweep Rajshahi, Rangpur and parts of the Khulna division from Saturday, he said.

The biggest ever cold wave this winter that began on January 20 ended on Tuesday. The cold wave tore through Rajshahi, Rangpur and parts of Khulna and also touched many areas in the Dhaka, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Barishal and Chattogram divisions.

On Wednesday, the country’s lowest minimum temperature, 9.1 degrees Celsius, was recorded at Tetulia.

The minimum temperature in the capital was recorded at 15.6 degrees.

The sky in the capital remained covered with cloud throughout Wednesday with occasional drizzles. The capital received 1mm rainfall in 6 hours till noon.

The country’s highest rainfall of 5mm was recorded at Ishwardi of Pabna in six hours till 12:00pm.

There have been three cold waves in January, the second month of three-month long winter.

Weather forecasters said that cold waves feel relatively less cold than two other winter months in February because of long hours of sunshine.

The Met Office sought a little more time to predict whether February would see multiple cold waves.

There were three cold waves in December, the first winter month.

The Health Emergency Operation Centre and Control Room on Wednesday said that 4,248 people were hospitalised or treated at government hospitals across Bangladesh because of cold related diseases in 24 hours ending Wednesday morning.

The health emergency control room said that 57 people were killed because of cold related diseases since November 1, mostly in northern Bangladesh.

Although winter begins in December on meteorological calendar, cold weather sets in pockets of northern region earlier.

This winter was considered the coldest in last three years in terms of frequent cold waves.

The Met Office said that temperature would remain unchanged over the country on Thursday.

It said that light to moderate fog may disrupt visibility in the early hours and morning of Thursday.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net