Well-marked low forms in north Bay, cautionary signal maintained at ports

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) says that the low pressure area located on the West Bengal-Bangladesh coast adjacent to the north Bay of Bengal has shifted northwest and intensified into a well-marked low.

The low formed in the north Bay of Bengal on Wednesday. A special marine warning on Thursday said that the well-marked low may move further northwest and intensify further.

Its influence may result in squally weather at maritime ports, the north Bay, and adjoining coastal areas in Bangladesh.

Therefore, the BMD has maintained local cautionary signal number No. 3 at the maritime ports in Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra.

Fishing boats and trawlers in the north Bay have been asked to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.

Meteorologist Md Tariful Newaz Kabir told bdnews24.com at noon, “The low is going to turn into a depression, but it has moved over the land. This means that it has almost turned into a land depression in the coastal areas of the Indian portion of the Sundarbans or West Bengal.”

Asked about the low’s impact, the meteorologist said: “Since it has moved north and is still becoming a depression, there will not be much rainfall. That means there will be less rain than what we had thought earlier. Because when the system is stronger, it will pull more water vapour towards itself.

“It will have an impact until tomorrow (Friday). As time goes by, its impact on our territory will gradually decrease.”

Meanwhile, the BMD has also issued warning signals for some river ports in the country due to the possibility of gusty or squally winds due to the low.

The warning said that temporary rain or thundershowers with south or southeasterly gusts or squalls up to 45 to 60kmh is likely over the Khulna, Barishal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar regions from 9:30am to 6pm on Thursday. Therefore, the river ports in these areas have been asked to display cautionary signal No. 1.

In the regular weather bulletin on Thursday morning, the BMD said that the axis of the monsoon trough is extending through Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gangetic West Bengal, the centre of the low to Assam across the southern part of Bangladesh.

The monsoon is fairly active over Bangladesh and is strong in the north Bay of Bengal, it said.

As such, light to moderate rain or thundershowers with temporary gusty winds may occur in many places in the Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions and in some places in the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions for 24 hours from 9am on Thursday.

Moderate to heavy rain may occur in some places across the country. The day and night temperatures may decrease slightly across the country.

The highest rainfall in the 24 hours to 9am on Thursday was 83mm in Cox’s Bazar, the BMD said.

It also recorded 81mm in Lakshmipur’s Ramgati, 57mm in Kutubdia, 45mm in Teknaf, 44mm in Khulna’s Koyra, and 10mm of rainfall in Dhaka.

Saidpur and Chuadanga saw the highest temperature in the country at 36.5C. The temperature in the hill district of Bandarban was the lowest at 24.2C.