Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Meteorological Department has advised maritime ports to keep cautionary signals hoisted as a low pressure area has formed in the southeast part of the country and the adjoining northeast of the Bay of Bengal.
The BMD said the low pressure is now lying in the same area as a well-marked low. The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra have been advised to keep Local Cautionary Signal No. 3 hoisted.
“The well-marked low may intensify into a depression. It may pass over Bangladesh and into India,” Meteorologist Omar Faruk said on Friday.
He said under the influence of the weather system, there is heavy rain in the country. It will continue tomorrow as well. On Sunday, the rain will ease in the east, but remain in the west.
On the other hand, the Storm Warning Centre says that the system is likely to move northwest and intensify further. Due to its influence, deep convention is taking place over the North Bay and its adjoining coastal areas. This may result in squally weather in the area and at the maritime ports.
All fishing boats and trawlers in the North Bay are instructed to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.
Besides, the regular weather bulletin says that most of the Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, and Chattogram divisions, and many parts of the Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions will see temporary gusty winds, and moderate rain or thunderstorms in the 24 hours from 9am on Friday.
Some parts of the country may also see moderate to very heavy rain.
In the 24 hours to 6am on Friday, Cox’s Bazar recorded the most rain in the country with 378 mm. Teknaf saw 234 mm, Patuakhali 174 mm, and Patuakhali’s Khepupara 100 mm.
The BMD officials said generally, 1-10 mm of rain a day is considered light, 11-22 mm is moderate, 23-44 mm is moderately heavy, 44-88 mm is heavy, and over 88 mm is very heavy.