June Rainfall Down 30%, Monsoon Rains Still Elusive
Rain in Dhaka city. Photo: Focus Bangla
Although 20 days of the Bengali month of Ashar (first month of rainy season) have already passed, the country has yet to see normal monsoon rainfall. Rainfall in June was also 30 percent lower than usual compared with previous years. Meanwhile, the weather has remained intensely hot in recent days, leaving people struggling with oppressive humidity despite the peak monsoon season. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said the ongoing heat wave across the country may persist for several more days.
Meteorologist Dr. Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallik of the BMD forecast an increase in rainfall, though not a major downpour. He told Agamir Somoy that rainfall activity may increase around July 7–8. As a result, temperatures could decline, while July rainfall may remain close to normal levels.
The BMD’s five-day forecast also indicates a gradual increase in rainfall. The department said the well-marked low-pressure area over the northwestern Bay of Bengal and adjoining North Odisha-West Bengal coastal region may move westward to northwestward within the next three days after crossing North Odisha and North Chhattisgarh. The monsoon trough extends through Punjab, Haryana, East Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gangetic West Bengal, the center of the low-pressure area, and southern Bangladesh to Assam. The monsoon remains fairly active over Bangladesh and moderate to strong elsewhere over the northern Bay of Bengal.
According to Sunday’s forecast, most places in the Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions and some areas of the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Khulna divisions may experience rain or thundershowers. Moderate to heavy rainfall may occur in some places. Day and night temperatures may decrease slightly.
On Monday, most places in the Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions and many places in the Rangpur division may receive rain or thundershowers. Some areas of the Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions may experience moderate heavy to very heavy rainfall. Daytime temperatures may fall by 1 to 3 degrees Celsius, while nighttime temperatures may decrease slightly.
On July 7, most places in the Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions and many places in the Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions may experience rain or thundershowers. Moderate heavy to very heavy rainfall may also occur in parts of the Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Day and night temperatures may decline slightly.
On July 8, most places in the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions may receive rain or thundershowers. Moderate heavy to very heavy rainfall may occur in some parts of the country. Day and night temperatures may remain unchanged.
