Cyclone Remal has swept across Bangladesh, bringing strong winds and heavy rain. It has now weakened into a low-pressure area over Assam and adjacent regions. However, as soon as the cyclone has left, the air temperature in various parts of the country, including Dhaka, has begun to rise, raising concerns about a potential heatwave.
Meteorologist Dr. Mohammad Abul Kalam Mallik informed Channel i Online that a heatwave could start in several parts of the country, including Dhaka, from today. However, it is expected that the intensity of this heatwave will not be as severe as the previous one, which had prompted a heat alert.
This morning, the air in Dhaka already felt warm, despite the recent cyclone. One Channel i employee remarked, “Why does the air feel so hot?” upon entering the office.
Explaining why the air feels warm, Dr. Mallik said that the trees and soil are now saturated with moisture. Except for Sylhet and Mymensingh, the sky over the rest of the country is mostly clear or partly cloudy, causing the sun’s heat to directly affect the wet soil and plants. The accumulated water is evaporating into the atmosphere. Additionally, the wind has calmed down since the cyclone. Currently, the wind speed in Dhaka is only 5 to 10 kilometers per hour. All these factors combined are making the air feel hot.
Regarding the possibility of rain, Dr. Mallik mentioned that there is a chance of light rain in Dhaka within the next 24 hours. The weather department’s morning statement indicated that some areas in the Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions, and a few places in the Dhaka and Chittagong divisions, might experience temporary gusty winds with rain or thundershowers. The rest of the country is expected to remain mostly dry with partly cloudy skies.
Parvez Ahmed Palash, Chairman of the private weather organization ‘Bangladesh Weather Observation Team (BWOT)’, discussed the impact of the heatwave, rain, nor’wester, and hot air. He explained that with the departure of the cyclone, the monsoon winds have re-entered the country, making nor’westers likely during this period. Drawing an example, he said, “Just as we used to gather mangoes after a brief rain shower in our childhood, we can expect sudden showers now.” He added that several areas will experience a heatwave starting today, and the warm air will be noticeable due to the rising temperatures.
BWOT has indicated that there is a daily likelihood of some rain in many areas of the Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions. In contrast, other areas might experience warm air despite the presence of wind. The organization predicts the monsoon season to start in the first week of June in the southern Chittagong division, the second week in the central region, and the third week throughout the entire country.
