This year's first cyclone—Asani—is likely to form over the central Bay of Bengal on 21 March. It is unlikely to cross the Indian coast but heavy rain and strong winds are expected over Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

A low-pressure area was formed over the equatorial Indian Ocean and the southwest Bay of Bengal on Tuesday evening. It was over central south Bay of Bengal on Wednesday. The low-pressure area is likely to move and become a well-marked low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea around 19 March. Thereafter, it is likely to move north-north-westwards along and off Andaman and Nicobar Islands and intensify into a depression by the morning of March 20 and cyclonic storm Asani on 21 March, IMD said.

"For now, it does not seem like it will affect the Indian coast. Our models indicate Asani may cross Bangladesh or adjoining north Myanmar coasts. But it is also too early to say what will be the trajectory. All conditions are favourable for formation and intensification of the cyclone," said an IMD official.

On 19 March, light to moderate rainfall/thundershowers are likely in the south Andaman Sea. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Strong winds reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph are very likely over the Bay of Bengal and the equatorial Indian Ocean till 18 March. Wind speed is gradually expected to increase by March 21. Gale winds speed reaching 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph are very likely over Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Bay of Bengal. On 23 March, gale winds speed reaching 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph are very likely over the Bay of Bengal and Bangladesh and Myanmar coasts.

"If the forecast materialises, Tropical #CycloneAsani will become the first ever tropical cyclone to hit Andaman and Nicobar Islands in March. Not a single tropical cyclone has hit the region in March in at least 132 years," tweeted Akshay Deoras, a meteorologist at the University of Reading, UK.

A heatwave is also affecting parts of the country. Maximum temperatures of 39-41 degrees Celsius were recorded on Tuesday in some parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, and Telangana.

"The sky is also clear. So, there is more solar radiation and warming. Along the west coast, the reason for very high temperatures is different. It is mainly because of easterly winds which have weakened the sea breeze over Mumbai and Konkan. Dry, warm easterlies are blowing along the west coast," said DS Pai, a former IMD scientist.

No significant change is expected in maximum temperatures in northwest India over the next two to three days. There may be some relief thereafter due to a western disturbance on 19 and 20 March.

IMD director general M Mohapatra said central India has also recorded heatwaves in March. "In our long-range forecast for March, we have said these areas particularly Gujarat, southwest Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Odisha are likely to record very high temperatures. The immediate reason for such high temperatures is the south-easterly wind blowing towards central India from very warm regions."

Skymet Weather vice president (climate and meteorology) Mahesh Palawat said dry and hot winds from the Thar desert were blowing across parts of north and central India. "This is why maximum temperatures have spiked. Now gradually wind direction will start changing. In the next 24-48 hours, there may be marginal relief."

Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) Programme Lead Abinash Mohanty said IMD's recent heatwave warning highlights the impact of climate extremities in recent years, which aligns with the projection of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. "The increase in intensity and frequency of extreme events like heat waves is a result of human-induced landscape disruption and micro-climate change, leading to temperature and precipitation anomalies."

Mohanty said CEEW's Climate Vulnerability Index suggests Indian districts have undergone a 45% change in their landscape attributes (tree cover, forest coves, wetlands, mangroves, among others), thereby triggering these heat extremities. "Rapid deployment of nature-based solutions can mitigate the impact of micro-climate changes and heatwaves. They also pay a double dividend of enhancing resilience, as well as generating socio-economic and environmental benefits that can climate-proof lives and livelihoods."

As city dwellers are witnessing a huge flow of traffic, Dhaka has ranked second on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 387 at 9:30 am this morning (February 4, 2024).

Dhaka’s air was classified as ' hazardous ', according to the air quality index.

Ghana’s Accra, Pakistan’s Karachi and China’s Shenyang occupied the first, third and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 423, 193 and 183 respectively.

When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.

The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.

The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.

Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.

As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) forecasts varied weather patterns across the country, with rain or thundershowers expected in several divisions, including Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Barishal, and Chattogram.

As per the latest bulletin from the BMD, “Rain or thundershowers are likely at a few places in the Khulna and Dhaka divisions, with occasional showers predicted in Rajshahi, Barishal, and Chattogram divisions.”

In other parts of Bangladesh, the weather is set to remain predominantly dry, albeit with partly cloudy skies.

The report also warns of moderate to thick fog formation over river basins, with lighter fog likely in other areas. This foggy condition, particularly dense near rivers, may temporarily disrupt inland river transport from late night until morning.

Weather forecast: Light rain in Ctg, Barishal divisions, fog disruptions across country, BMD says

Temperature fluctuations are also on the horizon, with a slight increase in night temperatures and a minor decrease in daytime temperatures expected nationwide.

From Chuadanga, UNB’s correspondent reports that the district town has been experiencing light rainfall since Tuesday night. The local Chuadanga Weather Observatory Centre, under the supervision of Officer-in-Charge Jaminur Rahman, recorded 3 mm of rainfall by 6 am on Wednesday. Additionally, a slight rise in temperature was observed, with the mercury hitting 15.3 degrees Celsius early this morning.

Weather forecast: Fog across the country with light rain in Ctg, BMD says

The forecast suggests continued rainfall in Chuadanga and surrounding areas until Friday, indicating a wet end to the week for the residents.

-UNB

Dhaka has ranked third on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality with an AQI index of 221 at 8:53 am on Wednesday.

Dhaka’s air was classified as ' very unhealthy', according to the air quality index.

India’s Delhi and Ghana’s Accra occupied the first and second spots on the list, with AQI scores of 241 and 226 respectively.

When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.

The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.

The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.

Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.

As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

Dhaka has topped the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 269 at 8:55 am this morning (January 30, 2024).

Dhaka’s air was classified as 'very unhealthy', posing serious health risks to residents, according to the air quality index.

Ghana’s Accra, Uganda’s Kampala and India’s Mumbai occupied the second, third and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 209, 189 and 188 respectively.

When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.

The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.

The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.

Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.

As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

(UNB)

Mild cold wave is sweeping over three northern districts, according to a met office forecast for the next 24 hours commencing 9am today.

"Mild cold wave is sweeping over the districts of Dinajpur, Panchagarh and Kurigrram and it may abate from some places", it said.

Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country.

Moderate to thick fog may occur over the country during midnight to morning and it may continue till noon at places over the country. Air navigation, inland river transport and road communication may disrupt due to thick fog.

Night and day temperature may rise slightly over the country. Due to prevailing thick fog, cold day condition may prevail at places over the country.

Country's maximum temperature on Thursday was recorded 28.7 degree Celsius at Teknaf and minimum temperature today was recorded 08.4 degree Celsius at Tetulia.

Ridge of sub continental high extends up to West Bengal and adjoining northwestern part of Bangladesh. Seasonal low lies over South Bay, extending it's trough to North Bay.

The sun sets at 05.25pm today and rises at 06.43am tomorrow in the capital Dhaka.

: BSS