Low over Bay of Bengal prompts cautionary signal No. 3 at Bangladesh seaports

A low-pressure area has formed over the Bay of Bengal, prompting the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) to advise the country’s four seaports to hoist local cautionary Signal No. 3.

According to a special weather bulletin, the system developed over the northwest Bay and adjoining coastal areas of West Bengal and northern Odisha.

It may move further west-northwest, the Met Office said. Under its influence, strong winds may blow over the maritime ports, the north Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh.

Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra ports have therefore been advised to keep local cautionary signal No 3 hoisted.

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

Meteorologist Tariful Newaz Kabir told bdnews24.com on Saturday afternoon that if the system moves west-northwest, it would move over land.

“If it intensifies after moving over land, its effects may extend somewhat towards our southeastern coast. Its maximum impact will be in India,” he said.

As the system is currently over the northwest Bay, boats and trawlers have been advised to remain close to the coast and exercise caution, he said.

“Even if the low-pressure system intensifies, it will move over land. It may turn into a land depression or something similar. Its effects are unlikely to be significant over our sea,” Kabir said.

The Met Office's regular bulletin issued on Saturday morning said the axis of the monsoon's extended trough runs from Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar through the centre of the low-pressure system and southern Bangladesh to Assam.

The monsoon is fairly active over Bangladesh and strong over the north Bay, the bulletin said.

For the 24 hours from 9am on Saturday, light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds are likely in many places in Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, and in some places in Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna and Barishal divisions.

Moderately heavy rain may occur in places across the country, while day and night temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged.

In the 24 hours to 6am on Saturday, the highest temperature recorded in Bangladesh was 36.2 degrees Celsius in Dimla, Nilphamari, while the lowest was 24C in Sylhet.

The highest rainfall during the period was 57mm in Sylhet’s Sreemangal. Rangamati recorded 29mm, Satkhira 26mm, Tetulia in Panchagarh 25mm, Tarash 23mm and Dhaka 20mm.