Despite the first half of the month of Paush having passed, the intense chill of winter continues to linger.
On the first day of the new year, dense fog engulfed almost the entire country, marking a wintry day. Many districts did not witness the bright face of the sun. In several parts of North Bengal, life came to a standstill as biting cold winds swept through the region.
The capital also experienced a heavy fog blanket, adding to the already cold conditions. The chill of Paush has firmly set in, with cold winds blowing and temperatures dropping compared to the last few days.
Meteorologists have warned that this pattern of fog and cold waves may persist across Bangladesh until January 7.
According to a review of the quarterly weather forecast, both day and night temperatures are expected to decrease further in January. The country may experience three to eight mild cold waves during this period, with temperatures potentially dipping to 8–10 degrees Celsius.
Moderate cold waves may also occur, lowering temperatures to 6–8 degrees Celsius. Additionally, three to four severe cold waves could sweep through the northwest, northeast, and central regions, bringing temperatures down to 4–6 degrees Celsius.
From late night to early morning over the next two months, moderate to dense fog is likely to affect northern, northwestern, central, and river basin areas, while light to moderate fog may occur in other regions. In northern and northwestern areas, fog may sometimes persist until noon, intensifying the cold.
During the latter half of February, thunderstorms with hail are expected in some parts of the country for one to two days.
The short-term forecast for the next five days suggests that day and night temperatures may begin to rise slightly towards the end of this period.
Meteorologist Dr. Abul Kalam Mallick stated that January could bring one to three mild-to-moderate cold waves and one to two severe cold waves.
On the first day of January, the feeling of cold intensified in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, and Sylhet divisions. This chill may gradually spread eastward through the central regions of the country, while isolated cold waves are likely in the western regions.
These conditions are expected to persist until Friday, with an increase in fog over the coming days.
Shahinul Islam, another meteorologist, noted that no immediate change in weather conditions is anticipated.
Clearing the dense fog blanketing the country will take time. However, a countrywide cold wave is not expected, although the perceived temperature will remain low.
He added that the month of Paush is considered the heart of winter in Bangladesh, characterized by the chilling winds blowing from the northwest.
These cold winds originate from the Himalayan region and northwest Asia, carrying extremely low temperatures. The combination of low humidity, reduced rainfall, and diminished water vapor further accentuates the feeling of cold during this season.
Dense fog can also disrupt air traffic, river transport, and road communications. For instance, fog delayed flights in Saidpur for six hours yesterday.
Meteorologist Shahnaz Sultana explained that the subcontinental high-pressure zone extends over West Bengal and its adjacent areas, while the seasonal low-pressure zone lies in the southern Bay of Bengal, extending into the northeastern Bay.
These systems contribute to fluctuating temperatures throughout the winter. Yesterday, the lowest temperature in the country was recorded at 10.6 degrees Celsius in Dinajpur, while Dhaka experienced a minimum temperature of 15 degrees Celsius.