Bangladesh’s northern and central regions are likely to be hit by an extreme cold wave in January with the mercury plummeting as low as 4 degrees Celsius.
In its long-term forecast for the current month, the Meteorological Department on Friday said moderate dense fog may occur with the bone-chilling cold.
Srimangal recorded the lowest temperature on Friday with 9.9C degrees Celsius. Capital Dhaka’s lowest temperature was 13 degrees Celsius.
According to the forecast, Bangladesh’s northern, north-eastern, north-western and central region may see one or two moderate to extreme cold waves.
Moderate to dense fog will envelope these regions and the river basins, it said.
Temperature generally drops between 6 and 8 degrees Celsius during a moderate cold wave while it stays between 4 and 6 degrees Celsius during an extreme cold snap.
Bangladesh’s northern region is usually hit by extreme cold accompanied by cold-related diseases every year. The homeless, elderly and infants are the worst sufferers.
On Dec 28, several children, including infants, had died of cold-related ailments in Rangpur.
The Met office said such cold snaps were only normal at the beginning of winter.
Bangladesh had experienced similar cold snaps in January last year.
Source: Bd news24