Storm Alert Issued for Seven Districts

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast the possibility of temporary storms affecting seven districts by this evening, with wind speeds expected to reach up to 60 kilometres per hour. As a precaution, inland river ports in the affected areas have been instructed to display warning signal number 1.

According to the weather bulletin issued for inland river ports, the forecast is valid from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm on Monday. The advisory specifically covers the regions of Tangail, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Cumilla, Noakhali, Chattogram and Sylhet.

The forecast states that these areas may experience temporary rain or thundershowers accompanied by gusty or squally winds blowing from the west or north-west at speeds ranging between 45 and 60 kilometres per hour.

Officials said the warning is part of the routine short-term forecasting system used to alert river transport operators and local authorities to adverse weather conditions that may disrupt navigation and outdoor activities.

Bangladesh frequently experiences such pre-monsoon weather systems during this period, particularly in April and May, when unstable atmospheric conditions often trigger thunderstorms, lightning and sudden strong winds across different parts of the country. These weather events can pose risks to small vessels operating on rivers, as well as to people in open areas.

The inland river warning system categorises alerts to ensure vessel operators take appropriate precautions. Warning signal number 1 is generally issued when squally weather is likely in a designated area, requiring operators to remain cautious and monitor updated bulletins.

The latest advisory did not indicate any escalation beyond warning signal number 1, suggesting that while adverse weather conditions are possible, the situation is not currently classified among the higher-risk warning levels.

Residents and transport operators in the listed districts are expected to stay alert to changing weather conditions throughout the day, particularly during afternoon and evening hours when convective activity typically intensifies.

Forecast Summary

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department regularly updates inland river forecasts several times a day, especially during periods of unstable weather, to help minimise risks to water transport and local communities. No further warning beyond the current advisory was mentioned in the latest bulletin.