Before heavy rains, fog-like clouds dazzle Dhaka

The residents of Dhaka have witnessed a weather phenomenon – stratus clouds, in which spread-out grey layers of clouds appear at ground level in the form of fog - followed by rains and wind.

Moinul Hoque Chowdhurybdnews24.com
Published : 23 April 2017, 09:48 PM
Updated : 23 April 2017, 09:48 PM

With the summer dust settling in Saturday's rains, the smoggy air made many curious on Sunday.

Asked what was causing the smog, Senior Meteorologist Abdur Rahman at the Met Office told bdnews24.com that it was clouds, not smog.

"The fog-like thing seen in the afternoon was clouds. The heavy parts of the clouds came down because those were carrying more water vapour. Clouds moving close to the surface are usual in this season of nor'westers," he said.

Weather experts, however, have termed the heavy rains much before the rainy season 'untimely'.

The capital experienced heavy rains in the evening.

Former Met Office director Samarendra Karmaker said it was a 'rare case'.

"This untimely abnormal rain is called pseudo-monsoon activity. This can't be seen every year, but once in a few years," he said.  

According to him, such untimely heavy rains occurred for the last time in 2001.

Senior weatherman Rahman also said more rains in the country, including the capital, by the end of April this year has been recorded than in past few years, which, in his view, is 'usual'. He said the rains might ease in a day or two.

Mohan Kumar Das, a researcher at BUET's Institute of Water and Flood Management and now-defunct SAARC Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC), attributed three reasons to the heavy rains.

These are weak eastern wind on the Arabian Sea, the impact of a low over the Bay of Bengal and cyclonic circulation in areas adjacent to Sylhet.

These might lead heavy rains to continue for two more days in the northeast and southeast regions of Bangladesh.

According to the Met Office, 55 millimetres of rain was recorded in Dhaka on Saturday. The highest rain of 98 millimetres in the country was recorded in Noakhali's Maizdi Court.

In Monday's weather forecast, the Met Office said rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at many places over Barisal, Chittagong, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions, at a few places over Khulna, Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions.

Places in Barisal, Chittagong, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions have see moderately heavy to very heavy rainfalls.

Day and night temperature may rise by 1-2° Celsius across the country.