Severe Weather Alert Issued as Gales Threaten Ten Regions

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has issued a weather alert warning of impending squalls with wind speeds potentially reaching 60 kilometres per hour across ten key regions, including Dhaka and Chittagong. In light of the deteriorating conditions, maritime authorities have instructed inland river ports situated within these areas to raise Distant Cautionary Signal No. 1 to safeguard vessel operations and coastal traffic.

According to the meteorology office’s advisory for inland waterways, strong atmospheric disturbances originating from the south and south-east are anticipated to blow over Dhaka, Faridpur, Khulna, Barisal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Comilla, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, and Sylhet. These squally winds are forecast to bring intermittent rain, severe thunder showers, and localized atmospheric volatility.

In addition to gale-force winds, forecasters have warned of intense precipitation across vast swathes of the country throughout the day. Particular vigilance has been advised for southern and south-eastern maritime sectors—specifically Khulna, Barisal, and Chittagong divisions—where heavy to exceptionally heavy downpours are expected. Torrential monsoon rains of this magnitude frequently exacerbate the threat of surface waterlogging in major urban centres, alongside increasing the likelihood of localized flash floods and river overflow in low-lying rural regions.

In Dhaka and adjacent urban territories, sky conditions are expected to remain predominantly overcast to partly cloudy, with scattered rain and thunder showers likely to persist. Local wind flows are predicted to maintain a south-easterly direction at moderate speeds of 10 to 15 km/h, keeping maximum day temperatures largely consistent with recent averages.

Early morning readings logged at 06:00 in the capital recorded a temperature of 25.2°C, accompanied by near-saturation atmospheric moisture levels, with relative humidity standing at 98 per cent. Over the preceding 24-hour monitoring period, Dhaka accumulated 8 millimetres of rainfall, having registered a maximum temperature of 31.2°C yesterday and an overnight minimum of 25.1°C. Sunset is scheduled for 18:46 today, with sunrise expected tomorrow at 05:25.

Across the remainder of the country, light to moderate rain accompanied by transient gusty winds is projected to affect most areas within Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal, and Chittagong divisions, alongside numerous districts across Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet. While nocturnal temperatures are anticipated to remain stable, daytime temperatures nationwide may experience a slight decline due to sustained cloud cover and precipitation.