Shivering Weather: Temperatures Could Drop to Six

A cold wave is set to sweep across parts of Bangladesh on Wednesday, 7 January, with temperatures expected to fall to as low as six degrees Celsius in several districts, according to climate researcher Mostofa Kamal Palash of the University of Saskatchewan, Canada.

In a verified Facebook post on Tuesday, 6 January, Palash highlighted that the northern and western divisions—Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Khulna—may experience intensified cold conditions. In particular, early morning temperatures around 6:00 am in Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Khulna divisions could drop to between six and eight degrees Celsius.

Analysing satellite imagery provided by the European Union, Palash noted that fog currently blankets 61 of Bangladesh’s districts, excluding Feni, Sylhet, and Sunamganj. From Tuesday evening onwards, districts in six divisions (except Chittagong and Sylhet) may be covered by moderate to dense fog. In Chittagong and Sylhet divisions, light to moderate fog is expected.

He also warned that sunlight may be scarce in Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Khulna divisions before midday, while other regions may see sunshine between 10:00 am and noon.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has reported that for the next 24 hours, the country will experience temporarily partly cloudy skies with dry conditions. Moderate to dense fog is likely from midnight to morning and may persist in some areas until noon. This fog could disrupt air travel, inland water transport, and road traffic.

Several districts—including Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogura, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Rangamati, Jessore, Chuadanga, and Kushtia—are currently experiencing mild to moderate cold waves, which are expected to continue. Night temperatures across the country may remain stable, while daytime temperatures may increase slightly. Foggy conditions will sustain the perception of cold nationwide.

The following table summarises the expected minimum temperatures and fog conditions on Wednesday, 7 January:

Looking ahead, the BMD predicts similar weather patterns on Thursday, 8 January, with partly cloudy skies, dry conditions, and fog from midnight to morning, possibly continuing until noon. Night temperatures are likely to remain stable, and daytime temperatures may rise slightly.

Authorities also warned that multiple cold waves are expected across the country this month, with some areas potentially seeing temperatures drop to as low as four degrees Celsius.