Signal 3 alert at Bangladesh ports as low brews over Bay

The Met office has asked all the maritime ports to issue cautionary signal No. 3, fearing stormy weather due to a depression in the Bay of Bengal.

In a weather bulletin released on Tuesday, it said the low over northwest Bay and adjoining west central Bay and coast of India’s Odisha has intensified into a depression and was lying over the same areas.

It may move in north-westerly direction and may cross Odisha coast near Puri soon, it said, adding that ‘steep pressure gradient persists over north Bay’ due to the depression.

Meteorologist Md Bazlur Rashid said the sea is billowy in the areas near to the centre of the depression. That is why the maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been asked to hoist Local Cautionary Signal No. 3.

All fishing boats and trawlers over north Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution.

The depression was centred at 6pm Tuesday about 760 kms west-southwest of Chittagong Port, 750 kms west-southwest of Cox’s Bazar Port, 560 kms southwest of Mongla Port and 600 kms southwest of Payra Port.

Meteorologists have said the ongoing mild heatwave will end and rains will resume due to the monsoon once this depression passes.

The mild heatwave has swept over Rangpur, Dianjpur, Syedpur, Tentulia, Tangail, Bogra and Sylhet.

On Tuesday, the highest temperature was recorded in Dinajpur at 37.6 degrees Celsius.

Only 4mm rain was recorded in Dhaka, where the temperature was 35.4 degrees Celsius. The highest rainfall was recorded in Sirajganj’s Tarash.

The Met office in its forecast for Wednesday said the monsoon was active over southern part and fairly active over elsewhere in Bangladesh and moderate to strong elsewhere over the north Bay.

It said light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind may occur in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna, Barisal, Mymensingh, Rajshahi and Rangpur with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over the country.

The mild heatwave that is sweeping over Ragpur, Rajshahi and Pabna may ease on Wednesday.