Persistent cloud cover and intermittent rain maintain seasonal pattern across Chittagong

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Chattogram has been cloaked in a persistent gray shroud for the past week, with dense cloud cover obscuring the sun and creating a subdued, monsoon-like atmosphere across the port city. While light showers and overcast skies have provided a reprieve from the intense heat experienced earlier this month, the lack of direct sunlight has led to a stagnant, humid environment that many residents find stifling.

According to the Ambagan meteorological office, the city recorded 57 millimeters of rainfall between Wednesday and Thursday. Temperatures have stabilized to a more moderate range, with a recorded high of 31 degrees Celsius and a low of 27 degrees Celsius. Despite the lower thermometer readings, the high levels of atmospheric humidity prevent sweat from evaporating efficiently, sustaining a lingering sense of physical discomfort for the local population.

Meteorologists attribute this pattern to the active southwest monsoon, which is currently funneling large quantities of water vapor from the Bay of Bengal into the southeastern region of the country. As this warm, moist air rises and condenses, it forms expansive cloud layers that can persist for days. Experts note that Chattogram’s unique geography—sandwiched between the Bay of Bengal and hilly terrain—further intensifies this process. Moist air arriving from the sea is forced upward by the hills, accelerating cloud formation and often prolonging the gloom.

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Mohammad Abdur Rahman Khan, deputy director of the Weather and Geophysical Center in Chattogram, emphasized that these conditions are a routine characteristic of the monsoon season rather than an anomaly. He explained that the interplay between shifting cloud layers and localized weather systems is essential for the region’s natural water cycle, supporting the local ecosystem, river systems, and agricultural lands.

While the city remains braced for continued variability, residents should expect the current cycle of intermittent sunshine and cloud cover to persist. Meteorological officials indicate that the monsoon’s “hide-and-seek” pattern—where skies may clear briefly before darkening again—is typical for this time of year and is expected to define the coming days.