Public life disrupted by moderate cold

 Public life disrupted by moderate cold

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours said light to moderate fog could fall across the country from last night till morning.

 Winter prevails in Bangladesh mainly during the month of January.  But this time the intensity of winter is being felt in December.  Mild to moderate cold spells are prevailing in large parts of the country.  There are indications that this will continue for a few more days.

 Rajarhat in Kurigram on Saturday recorded the lowest temperature in the country at 6.8 degrees Celsius.  However, the minimum temperature in Dhaka was twice that of 13.5 degrees Celsius.  And the first cold spell of the current season starts from Friday.  The temperature dropped to 9 degrees in Tentulia that day.

 Senior meteorologist Bazlur Rashid said on Saturday that mild to moderate cold was prevailing in Rangpur, Rajshahi and Mymensingh divisions and in Tangail, Faridpur, Srimangal, Jessore, Kushtia and Barisal.  Such weather will prevail for a couple of days.  The minimum temperature may not go down anymore.  After a couple of days the temperature will continue to rise.

 Meteorologists usually call it a gentle breeze when the temperature drops to 8 to 10 degrees Celsius over a large area.  When the mercury in the thermometer drops to 6 to 8 degrees Celsius, it is considered to be experiencing severe cold spells when the medium and minimum temperatures are between 4 and 6 degrees Celsius.

 The minimum temperature in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet and Mymensingh region is between 8-9 degrees Celsius.  The cold spell in Mymensingh, Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions and Tangail, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Srimangal, Jessore, Kushtia, Barisal and Bhola areas may continue.  The night temperature may decrease slightly in Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions.  There is a hint of reduction in day temperature.

 Meteorologist Bazlur Rashid said there was no fear of severe cold.  However, another cold spell may take place this month.  After 25/26 December, the temperature may drop again.  At this time, the second phase of the current season may be cold in different parts of the country.

 Winter prevails in Bangladesh mainly during the month of January.  On January 8, 2016, the lowest temperature in the history of the country was recorded at 2.8 degrees Celsius in Tentulia, Panchagarh.  And on January 11, 2013, the temperature in Syedpur dropped to 3 degrees Celsius.  Earlier, on February 4, 1986, Srimangal recorded the lowest temperature in the country at 2.8 degrees Celsius.