A blanket of fog shrouded the sun over the country, including in the capital Dhaka on Monday, making it difficult to navigate on the rivers and on highways. But it heralds the beginning of a harsher bite of chilly winter in the coming 2-3 days, meteorologists said. Though the dense fog is likely to clear in a day or two, it would also clear the way for the biting winter to close in, with the temperature going down to 6-7 Degrees Celsius, as a severe cold wave reaches the north and central regions of the country, a senior meteorologist said on Monday.
A mild cold wave, in its second spell, has already been blowing over the regions of Syedpur, Srimangal and Rangamati. It would continue on Tuesday, the met office said in its forecast.
The chill of winter is felt more due to the fog, with the difference between the minimum and maximum temperatures narrowing.
The temperature dropped to 8.9 Degrees Celsius, the lowest minimum in the country on Monday, at Srimangal to the north-east. In Dhaka it was 13C against the maximum of 22.4C.
The fog was due to an intrusion of humidity from the Bay of Bengal, the result of a well marked low over the Southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining area near the Sri-Lanka.
It was created when the southerly air laced with humidity came in contact with the cold air from the ridge of a Sub-continental high stretching up to Bihar and adjoining area near the north western Bangladesh.
It also resulted in a few drops of rain late on Monday afternoon over the capital and other places.
The met office forecasts that there would be a partly cloudy sky over the country, adding to the mist and cool weather. There are also chances of light rain at one or two places over Rajshahi, Dhaka and Sylhet divisions and the regions of Jessore, Kushtia and Comilla.
Moderate to thick fog may occur over the river basins and light to moderate fog may occur elsewhere over the country.
Night temperatures may rise slightly due to the fog but the day temperatures may fall by 1-2° C across the country as the fog and a cloudy sky would rob the sun of its shine and heat, the forecast added.
Courtesy of The Independent
