Depression forms over Bay of Bengal, warning signal issued

The well-marked low over the northwest Bay of Bengal and the adjoining area has intensified into a depression. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has advised all maritime ports to keep local cautionary signal No. 3 hoisted.

Meteorologist Bazlur Rashid said the depression could intensify further and turn into a deep depression. Though it would cause more rainfall, no cyclonic storm is “expected,” he said.

Dhaka and other parts of the country have been experiencing rainfall due to the depression since Thursday morning.

Bazlur told bdnews24.com, “It will rain for two to three days. Then the depression will move towards Khulna and the Sundarbans.”

A low-pressure system had formed over the Bay of Bengal on Tuesday, which later intensified into a well-marked low. The well-marked low then became a depression at 6am on Thursday.

In its special weather bulletin, the BMD said that the depression was located about 405km west-southwest of Chattogram Port, 395km west-southwest of Cox’s Bazar Port, 230km southwest of Mongla Port, and 245km southwest of Payra Port at 6am on Thursday.

It is likely to move in a northward direction and intensify further. Due to its influence the north Bay of Bengal, coastal areas, and maritime ports may experience gusty winds and squalls.

The maximum sustained wind speed within 44 km of the centre of the system was about 40 kph, rising to 50 kph in gusts and squalls.

The Met Office advised the maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra to keep local cautionary signal No. 3 hoisted as the sea has turned rough near the depression centre.

Also, all fishing boats and trawlers in the north bay and deep sea have been advised to keep close to the cost and proceed with caution until further notice.

The Met Office forecast said light to moderate rain or thunder showers with lightning flashes and temporary gusty or squally wind with a speed of 60-80kph is likely to occur over Dhaka, Madaripur, Faridpur, Khulna, Barishal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Cumilla and Chattogram from the west or northwest from 9am to 6pm on Thursday.

The river ports in these areas have been advised to hoist cautionary signal No. 2.

The regular weather bulletin showed that light to moderate rain or thunder showers with lightning flashes and temporary gusty or squally wind was likely to occur in most places across the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, with moderately heavy to very heavy falls at some places over the country.

Day and night temperatures are likely to remain unchanged across the country. Rainfall is expected to continue for one or two more days.

The maximum rainfall in the country was recorded at 61mm in Teknaf on Wednesday. The maximum temperature in the country was recorded at 37 degrees Celsius in Rangpur’s Dimla.