Heavy rains to continue for next 5 days

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted continuous rainfall across the country, including Dhaka, for the next five days starting from 9am today.

Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds are likely to occur in most places across Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions, with moderately heavy to very heavy falls in some areas, the BMD said in its regular bulletin yesterday.

Additionally, a trough of westerly low lies over West Bengal, India, extending to the northwest Bay. The monsoon remains active over Bangladesh and is moderate to strong over the North Bay, as per the Met office.

Meteorologist Mostofa Kamal Palash, a PhD researcher on meteorology and climate at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, told The Business Standard, "The weather forecast models indicate the start of regular monsoon rainfall across the country from Friday and to continue until next Tuesday.

"However, the models also indicate that almost daily moderate to heavy rainfall will occur over the districts of Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions over the next five days," he said.

He added, "In the next five days, a total rainfall of 150 to 250 millimetres is expected over various districts in Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions. During the same period, 50 to 100 millimetres of total rainfall is expected over the districts in Khulna, Rajshahi, and Dhaka divisions."

"Additionally, 30 to 100 millimetres of total rainfall is expected over the districts in Barishal and Chattogram divisions."

Palash detailed the forecast for the upcoming days.

He said that on Friday, light to moderate rainfall is expected over six divisions, except for Chattogram and Dhaka, where only light rainfall is anticipated.

On Saturday, moderate to heavy rainfall is expected over Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions. Light to moderate rainfall is expected on Sunday over Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions, with light rainfall expected over the other divisions.

On Monday, moderate to heavy rainfall is expected over Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions, with light rainfall expected over the other divisions.

On Tuesday, moderate to heavy rainfall is expected over Rangpur and Sylhet divisions, with relatively light rainfall expected over the other divisions, said the meteorologist.

According to the Met office, in the past 24 hours until 9am yesterday, Tetulia in Panchagarh recorded the highest rainfall of 153 mm.

Chuadanga experienced the highest temperature at 36.4 degrees Celsius, while the lowest temperature was recorded at 22 degrees Celsius in Bandarban.

Day and night temperatures are expected to rise slightly in the Chattogram division, while a slight drop is anticipated elsewhere in the country, the Met office said.

Meanwhile, floods have severely impacted the eastern district of Sylhet, submerging all upazilas and leaving nearly 10 lakh people stranded, according to district officials.

The Sylhet Meteorological Office recorded 55mm of rain between 6am and 9am on Wednesday, with an additional 20 mm recorded between 6am and noon on Thursday.

Shah Md Sajib, assistant meteorologist at the Sylhet Meteorological Office, said heavy rain is expected in the next two days due to the persistent cloud cover.