Tetulia shivers at season's lowest 8.9°C, dry spell continues nationwide
According to the BMD, Teknaf in the southeast registered the country's highest temperature at 31.4 degrees Celsius yesterday, underscoring the stark north-south divide in weather conditions.
The northern tip of Bangladesh is reeling under a biting cold as Tetulia in Panchagarh district today (11 December) recorded the season's lowest temperature at 8.9 degrees Celsius, marking for the first time the mercury dipped below the 10-degree mark.
The persistent chill has intensified the woes of residents, who are grappling with sharp contrasts between frosty mornings and relatively warmer afternoons. Meteorologists say such fluctuations are prolonging discomfort and may deepen in the coming days.
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), Teknaf in the southeast registered the country's highest temperature at 31.4 degrees Celsius yesterday (10 December), underscoring the stark north-south divide in weather conditions.
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The BMD forecast, issued at 9am today, predicted generally dry weather with temporary partly cloudy skies across most regions over the next 24 hours. Light fog is likely to blanket parts of the country during the early morning hours. Nighttime temperatures may fall slightly, while daytime readings are expected to remain nearly unchanged.
In Dhaka, the sun will set at 5:12pm today and rise at 6:32am tomorrow (12 December).
BMD statistics show Tetulia's minimum temperature has hovered around 10 degrees Celsius since Saturday, with humidity levels ranging from 84 to 99%. On Tuesday (9 December), the chill was compounded by 99% humidity, while Faridpur recorded the maximum temperature at 30.6 degrees Celsius.
Earlier, Tetulia logged 10.4 degrees Celsius on 8 December, 10.5 degrees Celsius on 7 December, and 10.5 degrees Celsius on 6 December.
The prolonged cold snap in the north, coupled with dry weather elsewhere, paints a picture of seasonal extremes that continue to test resilience across communities.
Jitendranath Roy, the acting officer of the Tetulia Weather Observation Centre, said that the temperature in Panchagarh has fallen into the range of a mild cold wave.
Explaining the reason, he said that when the mercury stays between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius, it is considered a mild cold wave. He added that temperatures may drop further in December, leading to a moderate cold wave.
Meanwhile, dense fog has been seen from night until morning in Panchagarh. As the cold intensifies, people's suffering has also increased.
Braving the bone-chilling cold, low-income people are struggling to go out to fields and workplaces. Many are trying to stay warm by burning straw on roadsides, in front of houses, or beside tea stalls.
Even with extra layers of clothing, many are finding it difficult to work. The drop in temperature is affecting children, the elderly, and patients the most. Poor families are facing a shortage of warm clothes.
