59mm of rain drenches Dhaka in 6 hours, caution signal No. 1 maintained for river ports

Heavy rain is likely to continue for the next two days

After a day of scorching heat on Saturday, Dhaka has seen some respite with heavy rain on Sunday morning.

It rained 59mm for six hours between 3am to 9am on Sunday.

Meteorologist AKM Nazmul Haque told bdnews24.com on Sunday morning, "Fifty-nine millimetres of heavy rain fell in Dhaka in six hours. It is likely to continue for another two days, more or less."

Thunderstorms began in Dhaka around 3:15am. It continued to rain for about an hour. Heavy showers began again around 7:30am.

The morning rain caused much suffering for the employees heading to their work. Temporary waterlogging also occurred in various parts of Dhaka due to the rain.

Meanwhile, the inland river ports have been advised to continue hoisting cautionary signal No. 1 from 9am to 6pm on Sunday.

In a special bulletin, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said there may be temporary rain or thunderstorm accompanied by gusty or squally winds from the west or northwest at a speed of 45kmph to 60kmph over Rangpur, Pabna, Tangail, Mymensingh, Comilla, Noakhali, Chattogram and Sylhet regions. River ports in these areas have been asked to hoist cautionary signal No.1.

Nazmul said, "We have issued signal No. 1 for a few river ports. The reason is that when the clouds pass over the rivers, there are a lot of lightning flashes, sometimes accompanied by gusts of wind. So, in such a case, if we see that there is a possibility of wind to blow between 45kmph and 60kmph, we issue signal No. 1 or No. 2 accordingly. So today we have issued signal No. 1."

The weather forecast by the Met Office on Sunday says that the low-pressure area over the southwest Bay and adjoining west central Bay has diminished. The trough of low extends from west Bengal to North Bay of Bengal.

BMD forecast says light to moderate rain and thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty and squally wind and lightning flashes is likely to occur at many places over Rangpur, Dhaka, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over Rangpur, Dhaka, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions in the next 24 hours commencing on 9am on Sunday.

Day temperatures may rise slightly and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country during this period.

The BMD also said a mild heat wave is sweeping over the Khulna Division and the districts of Rajshahi, Pabna, Madaripur and Lakshmipur and is likely to continue.

The highest temperature in the country in the 24 hours to 9am on Sunday has been recorded at 37 degrees Celsius in Khulna.

The lowest temperature has been recorded in Bogura and Tarash at 20.5 degrees Celsius.

During this period, the highest rainfall in the country was 52mm in Tangail, while the BMD recorded rain in several other parts of the country, including 33mm in Dhaka and Bogura.