BMD forecasts nor'westers in six divisions, issues warning signal in river ports

It says storms at 60 to 80kmph may blow over seven regions, including Rajshahi and Rangpur

After excessive heat for days, the sky of Dhaka darkened amid wind gusts on Tuesday afternoon, Apr 16, 2024. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has issued a warning of nor'wester storms and rain with thunder in six divisions.

A special warning issued by the Met Office on Saturday said temporary stormy winds with a speed of 60 to 80km per hour may blow over Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Pabna, Bogura, Tangail, and Kushtia from the west or northwest.

River ports in these regions have been asked to display Warning Signal No. 2.

Additionally, temporary gusty or squally winds with rain or thunderstorms at a speed of 45 to 60km per hour may blow over Dhaka, Faridpur, Madaripur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet from the west or northwest.

River ports in these areas have been asked to display Warning Signal No. 1.

Meteorologist Tariful Newaz Kabir told bdnews24.com, “Damage is likely in these regions if a nor'wester storm occurs with high intensity. Heavy rain or hail can also contribute to the damage.”

The BMD’s regular bulletin on Saturday night said that in the next 24 hours from 6pm on Saturday, there may be rain or thundershowers with temporary gusty winds and lightning in some parts of Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet Divisions and a few places of Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, and Chattogram Divisions.

Additionally, scattered hailstorms may occur in some areas. The weather is expected to remain mainly dry across other parts of the country, with temporary partly cloudy skies.

The Met Office said daytime temperatures in Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet Divisions may drop by 1 to 3 degrees Celsius, while remaining largely unchanged elsewhere.

It added that night temperatures in Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet may fall slightly, while staying nearly unchanged in the rest of the country.

In the past 24 hours, the highest temperature recorded in the country was 36.3 degrees Celsius in Rajshahi and Rangamati, and the lowest temperature was 21.5 degrees Celsius in Rangamati.

The highest rainfall of 25mm in the country was recorded in Kishoreganj’s Nikli. Apart from that, no significant rainfall was reported anywhere in the country.