With the temperature continuing to fall for the past few days, the country is likely to see a cold wave next week.
The Met office had forecast that adverse weather may strike from December 17 or 18, bringing in fog and possibly light rain in parts of the country.
Temperature at night may drop drastically from the usual during the cold spell that is likely to be in place for a week.
According to the latest bulletin of the Met office issued at 6pm on Friday, weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country, having chances of light rain or drizzles at one or two places of Rangpur division. Moderate to thick fog may occur from night to noon, and may also continue till the afternoon at places.
Owing to heavy fog till Friday noon, the Meteorological Department warned all river vessels in these areas to operate carefully.
Meteorologist Omar Farooq said: “The difference between daytime temperature and nighttime temperature has decreased now. Because of this, even if the temperature is not very low it feels colder.
Also read: CELEBRATING WINTER
“However, the temperature might go down quite a bit next week. The cold wave may start from December 17 or 18.”
According to the Met office, seasonal low pressure is prevailing in the South of Bay of Bengal. It is being extended to the North side of the Bay as well.
The extension of the subcontinental high-pressure zone extends to Bihar and its adjoining areas. As a result, the weather can be dry with temporary partial clouds.
Moderate to heavy fog may fall in river basins in some parts of the country from midnight to noon and moderate to light fog may exist in other parts of the country.
An advisory issued to the seaports said that the visibility in the river basins of the country could be 400 metres or less due to light to moderate fog during the morning and at night. Boats in these areas have been asked to move about carefully.
The lowest temperature in the country on Friday was 14.3°C in Sitakunda upazila of Chittagong, whereas the minimum temperature in Dhaka stood at 17.6°C. Similarly, Mymensingh recorded 15.6°C, Chittagong 17.4°C, Sylhet 16.4°C, Rajshahi 16°C, Rangpur 16.3°C, Khulna 16°C, and Barisal 16.3°C.
Bangladesh normally experiences chilling cold from mid-December to early February, with multiple cold spells hitting the country over this period.
Meteorologists further fear that three cold waves may occur next month.