After several days of extreme cold, Dhaka residents finally experienced some sunlight on Monday afternoon.
The chill of winter persists despite the minor increase in temperature.
The difference in minimum and maximum temperature in the capital was 4°C on Monday, as compared to 3°C on Sunday.
The temperature in 25 districts dipped below 12°C. Meanwhile, a mild cold wave has been sweeping over the districts of Madaripur, Gopalganj, Dinajpur, Barisal and Bhola.
According to the Met Office, the weather over the country may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy skies.
Moderate to thick fog may occur over the country from midnight to morning, and it may continue till noon. Air navigation, inland river transport, and road communication may be disrupted temporarily due to fog, the forecast adds.
Day and night temperatures may increase slightly across the country.
In the last 24 hours, the lowest temperature in the country was 9°C in Barisal, which was 8.5°C in Dinajpur on Sunday. Besides, the minimum temperature in Dhaka was 14.8°C, as compared to 14°C on Sunday.
The weather cycle of Bangladesh has changed significantly over the last few decades when people have experienced untimely arrival or departure, longevity of the seasons, and severity of natural calamities—thanks to the adverse impacts of climate change. Geographic location and the presence of greenery are the other key factors that influence weather conditions.
Meteorologists say that when the difference between the maximum and minimum temperature decreases, the severity of winter starts to rise.
The difference in minimum and maximum temperatures has dipped below 5°C now, which is why a bone-chilling cold is felt in the capital.
Apart from this, the northerly frosty wind descends easily as there are no clouds in the sky. Earlier, when winter was not felt in December, meteorologists said that cold air could not descend if there were clouds in the sky.
Last year’s lowest temperature was recorded at 5.6°C at Sreemangal Upazila of Moulvibazar on January 20, while it was 9.5°C in Chuadanga on December 16, 2022. Earlier, mercury dropped to 4°C in Sreemangal on January 11, 2013. One of the coldest areas in the country, the upazila logged a temperature of 2.8°C in 1964.
The country experienced severe hot weather and low rainfall in 2023, with many districts recording over 40°C for consecutive weeks in April-June. Ishwardi Upazila in Pabna recorded the highest temperature at 43°C in Bangladesh on April 17 last year, while it was 40.6°C a day before.