Temperatures May Drop to 7°C in Several Divisions Today

The country is gripped by a biting cold wave, with dense fog and piercing chill disrupting daily life. Northern winds feel like needles piercing the skin, while reduced visibility due to fog has severely affected aviation, inland waterways, and road communication.

Currently, mild cold waves are blowing over Pabna, Sirajganj, Jashore, Kushtia, Cumilla, Moulvibazar, and Sylhet districts.

Mustafa Kamal Palash, a weather and climate researcher at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, warned in a Facebook post on Sunday (4 January) that temperatures could drop further today.

He wrote: “Since Saturday evening, the fog blanket entering from northwest India has again penetrated districts of Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions. As a result, there is a strong possibility of a significant increase in fog across the country from Sunday evening onwards. Severe cold wave conditions are expected to begin from Monday (5 January) morning in various districts of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Khulna divisions. By 6:00 am on Monday, minimum temperatures in districts of Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Khulna divisions may fall between 7 and 8 degrees Celsius.”

Palash further added: “Satellite imagery from the European Union at 3:30 pm on Sunday shows dense fog over various districts of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Mymensingh, and Dhaka divisions. From the evening onwards, there is a strong chance that districts in these five divisions will be covered in dense to very dense fog. Light to moderate fog is likely in districts of the remaining three divisions.”

Regarding sunlight, he stated: “On Monday (5 January) morning, the possibility of seeing sunlight before 2:00 pm is very low in most districts of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, and Dhaka divisions. In districts of Khulna, Barishal, Sylhet, and Chattogram divisions, the chance of seeing sunlight before 10:00 am is also very low.”

Meanwhile, Dhaka’s weather expert Kazi Zebunnesa from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department said: “The intensity of winter has increased slightly in the capital. This trend may continue. Daytime temperatures might rise by one degree Celsius, but night temperatures could drop again.”

She added: “Temperature largely depends on fog. More fog means lower perceived temperature and greater cold feeling. Fog is likely to remain dense across the country in the coming days, making the chill more intense.”

In this peak winter of Magh, children and the elderly are suffering the most. Low-income people are trying to keep warm by burning straw and firewood. Forecasters fear this weather pattern may persist for the next few days.