Rains lash parts of Bangladesh, bring much-needed respite from heatwave

After 33 days of record heatwave spell, northeastern, central and south-eastern parts of Bangladesh witnessed vbmuch awaited rainfall with thunderstorms last night bringing respite from intense heatwave.

“Much of the country including Dhaka city experienced significant rainfall with thunderstorms last night bringing downs mercury as Bangladesh has been facing longer and intense heatwave since April 1,” Omar Faruq, meteorologist of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) told BSS this morning.

Dhaka city and its adjacent districts recorded a significant amount of rainfall, he said adding, “Dhaka recorded 36mm rainfall while 31 mm
rains were recorded in Narayanganj, 32mm in Kishorganj, 12mm in Tangail.”

The country’s highest rainfall was recorded in Srimangal with 124mm while 37mm Patenga and 62mm at Rangamati, Faruq said adding different regions including Chattogram and Barishal division witnessed much welcome rains with thunderstorms.

Extreme heat has blasted two divisions – – Khulna and Rajshahi since at the beginning of April but these divisions did not receive rainfall till now this summer, the BMD meteorologist adding Rangpur division received very insignificant rainfall last night.

“Bangladesh is likely to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall with thunderstorms from today and it will continue throughout the month,” BMD meteorologist Dr Abul Kalam Mallik said.

He said as rainfall with thunderstorm will continue hoping to bid farewell the sweltering heatwave that battered the country forcing school closure and staying the people indoors claiming 15 deaths linked to heatstroke.

Northeastern, central parts including Sylhet division and some parts of Mymensingh and Dhaka division are likely to experience heavy to very
heavy rainfall between May 6 and 11 simultaneously south-western and north-western regions will witness rainfall with thunderstorms, he added.

Mallik suggested avoiding to stay outdoors during the hailstorm as intensity of hailstorms is increasing accompanied with frequent lightning impacted by climate change, which are largely responsible for casualties.

The meteorologist attributed uncomfortable feelings of unbearable hot- weather to high humidity persisting in the air during the afternoon and
evening period suggesting avoiding movement between 12 noon to 4pm as the sunlight is getting too hot as it (the Sun) provides sunlight vertically
with intense heat.

“Normally we record temperature from the air,” Mallik said the highest temperature was found between 12 noon and 4pm because of vertical position of the Sun.

Analyzing humidity indexes, Mallik continued, “There is a close relation of temperature and humidity . . . discomfort feelings will increase, if high humidity persists in the air with high temperature. “Although temperature decreases after 4pm, but we feel very hot weather due to high humidity,” he added.

The Met Office today recorded 39.5 degree Celsius at Rajshahi while the temperature in Dhaka was recorded at 36.9 degrees Celsius but the high humidity has exposed the residents to massive discomfort.

The BMD official said the country witnessed the longest duration of the heatwave for the past 33 days since April 1 and the met office warned the
phenomenon would continue throughout the next month.

“But unlike the previous heatwaves, this year it spread all over the country,” commented meteorologist Abul Kalam Mollik, who was supported by Zebunnesa as well.

Visibly for the first time the meteorologists acknowledged that the climate change phenomenon caused the erratic weather pattern with gradually
expanding areas of heatwave, joining the voice with the climate experts and activists.

“Maximum temperature in the country started falling on average one or two degrees Celsius from May, the Met Office said predicting temperature may
dip more from today as almost all parts of the country may witness much awaited rainfall, ” Md Omar Faruq, a meteorologist of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said.

Large swaths of Khulna and Rajshahi division are sweltering through a heatwave as the Met office logged highest temperature above 40 degree
Celsius in most stations located in the two divisions since April 1, Omar said predicting rains are likely to occur in different areas of the two division.