Bangladesh records widest heatwave of the year as monsoon rains stall
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Bangladesh is currently grappling with an unprecedented heatwave that swept through 48 districts on Wednesday, marking the widest geographic expanse of extreme heat recorded in the country this year. The sweltering conditions, which spanned across the Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Rajshahi, and Rangpur divisions alongside Chandpur, Noakhali, and Brahmanbaria, have defied seasonal norms as the expected arrival of the monsoon remains delayed.
Meteorological data indicates that the current heatwave is set to persist through Friday, with a marginal decrease in temperatures anticipated beginning Saturday. Despite scattered rainfall expected in regions including Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet, officials warn that these brief downpours are unlikely to provide significant or lasting relief from the stifling humidity.
বিজ্ঞাপন
The intensity of the heat was underscored by Wednesday’s peak temperature of 38.5 degrees Celsius in Dinajpur. Meanwhile, the capital, Dhaka, recorded a temperature of 36.8 degrees Celsius, the highest for the city throughout the current month. Meteorologist Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallik noted that such widespread thermal stress is highly unusual for this time of year, confirming that temperatures have consistently trended above historical averages for June.
The severity of the current weather pattern is compounded by the delayed onset of the monsoon, which typically begins to enter Bangladesh by late May. Last year, the monsoon arrived on May 25, while the long-term climatic average for its entry is May 31. Meteorologist Md. Bazlur Rashid explained that the monsoon is currently trailing its schedule by several days, and it may take another two to three days for the system to establish itself over the country.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Climatological records show that while April and May are traditionally the hottest months in Bangladesh, this year saw below-average temperatures during that period, bolstered by an unusually wet April that saw rainfall 75 percent above normal levels. However, the current shift toward prolonged heat suggests a shifting seasonal trajectory. Authorities expect that once the monsoon finally takes hold, widespread rainfall across the country will likely follow within three to four days, though the immediate forecast remains dominated by oppressive heat.
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