The country is likely to experience a drop in temperature over the next 72 hours accompanied by fog, says the Met office.
A mild chilly wind has started to sweep over northwestern Bangladesh, including capital Dhaka, since Tuesday (Dec 17) midnight. The mercury started to dip across the country since then.
"The temperature has fallen by 1 degree Celsius, but it feels colder due to the wind," meteorologist Aftab Uddin told Bangla Tribune.
He, however, says that the cold wave is yet to start. "Regarding the lowest temperature recorded, it's not a cold wave. It needs to drop below 10 degree Celsius to be considered a cold wave."
The country’s lowest temperature in the 24 hours till 6pm on Wednesday was recorded at 10.8 degree Celsius at Rajarhat in Rangpur while the highest 29.8 degree Celsius at Teknaf in Cox's Bazar, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
Meteorologist Aftab says that a mild cold wave is likely to sweep the northwestern region in the next 72 hours and that the mercury in Dhaka will dip a further 1 or 2 degree Celsius.
“The temperature will rise slightly after Dec 22 and it will fall gradually after Dec 26,” he said before adding a moderate cold wave is expected in January.
In its forecast for the next 24 hours from 6pm Wednesday, the Met Office predicts dry weather with temporary partly cloudy sky across Bangladesh, not allowing much sunlight to reach the ground and keep the day cold.
The overall temperature may fall slightly across the country while a 1 to 2 degree Celsius drop is expected during night, it said.
Moderate to thick fog is expected over northwestern Bangladesh and light to moderate fog elsewhere from midnight to morning, according to the forecast.