Cold wave likely after two or three more days of fog

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) had previously predicted that the winter cold could increase from the first day of the new year.

Parts of the country, including Dhaka, are now covered with fog even during the day at the start of January. The cold breeze also intensifies the seasonal chill.

The BMD said that such fog would continue for two or three more days in parts of the country, including Dhaka. The daytime temperature will likely drop during this time. Thereafter, a cold wave is likely after the night temperature drops once the fog has cleared.

Meteorologist Bazlur Rashid told bdnews24.com on Thursday morning, "The fog will last for two to three days. At this time, the cold will remain unchanged. After the fog dissipates, a cold wave may arrive following a drop in night temperatures.”

"After Jan 6 to 7, the night temperature may fall below 10 degrees Celsius,” he said.

The Met Office said in its regular bulletin commencing 9am on Thursday that the ridge of the sub-continental high extends up to the western part of Bangladesh and adjoining areas. A seasonal low lies over the south Bay of Bengal, extending its trough to northeast bay.

The weather may remain dry with a temporary partly cloudy sky over the country from 9am on Thursday.

In addition, moderate to dense fog may occur over the country from midnight until noon. Air navigation, inland river transport and road communication may be disrupted temporarily due to thick fog.

Night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged and day temperature may fall by 1-2°C across the country, the bulletin read.

Due to dense fog, the chill may persist in parts of the country during daytime, it added.

MILD COLD WAVE IN ONE DISTRICT, ONE UPAZILA

According to the BMD, a mild cold wave has been sweeping over the Chuadanga district and Pabna’s Ishurdi Upazila in the past 24 hours.

Generally, if the temperature remains between 8.1°C and 10°C, it is considered a mild cold wave.

The country's lowest temperature in the last 24 hours was 9.8 degrees Celsius in Chuadanga. That means there is a mild cold wave in the district.

The Met Office recorded a minimum temperature of 10 degrees Celsius in Pabna's Ishurdi.

Temperatures are hovering around 10 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country.

The minimum temperature in Dhaka was recorded at 13.8 degrees Celsius during this period.Teknaf recorded the highest temperature at 28 degrees Celsius.