Freak of nature brings in heavier rains, say experts

Bangladesh has been experiencing excessive rainfall since the pre-monsoon period this time due to westerly disturbance and persisting active monsoon over the country, demonstrating unusual behavior of climate, say meteorologists, reports UNB.

They said the higher amount of rainfall was recorded during the pre-monsoon time -- March, April and May -- this year compared to several years in the last decade due to westerly disturbance which they said a freaky behavior of the nature.

As the monsoon is active over the Bangladesh this year, the meteorologists said, the country has been receiving a high rainfall during the traditional monsoon period as well since June and the trend continues.

“Heavy rainfall may continue to occur at different parts of the country until August 17, aggravating the current flood situation here further,” said Omar Farroque, a meteorologist at the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).

He said over 300 mm of average rain were recorded within 12 days of this August, which is very higher than the normal rainfall. “The country was supposed to receive 403 mm of average rain throughout the month. Around 371 mm average rain was recorded all through August in 2016.”

Abul Kalam Mallik, another BMD meteorologist, said monsoon in Bangladesh spans over four months--June, July, August and September--while light rainfall usually starts occurring after the Bangla month of Baishakh.

“This year the rain started before the Baishakh. We experienced downpour even in March, an unusual pattern,” he said.

BMD senior meteorologist Abdul Mannan said the country has been receiving an excessive precipitation this year due to 4-5 depressions formed over the Bay of Bengal during the pre-monsoon period and persisting active monsoon since June, a trend that has not been seen in the past decade.

He said Chittagong and Sylhet regions have been experiencing unusual amount of rainfall over the last few years as well as this year. “The unusual behaviour of the weather is a major reason behind it.”

The meteorologists, however, are unwilling to call it a cause of climate change effect without an extensive research on climate variability or examining the 50 years' rainfall pattern of the country. But, they fear that country's weather pattern is going to be more unpredictable in the future as the nature is showing its strange behaviour.

They also viewed that although the country is receiving excessive precipitation, it has less contributions to frequent floods this year as waters from the upstream are mainly responsible for flooding in the downstream.

According to Met office statistics, the country's average rainfall was recorded 622 mm in July which is 32.7 percent higher than the normal rainfall. The country experienced 557.8 mm average rainfall last year during the period.

In June this year, 457 mm average rain was recorded in the country, which is 3.7 percent higher than the normal rainfall and 144 mm higher than last year's.

Freak of nature brings in heavier rains, say experts

Bangladesh has been experiencing excessive rainfall since the pre-monsoon period this time due to westerly disturbance and persisting active monsoon over the country, demonstrating unusual behavior of climate, say meteorologists, reports UNB. They said the higher amount of rainfall was recorded during the pre-monsoon time -- March, April and May -- this year compared to several years in the last decade due to westerly disturbance which they said a freaky behavior of the nature. As the monsoon is active over the Bangladesh this year, the meteorologists said, the country has been receiving a high rainfall during the traditional monsoon period as well since June and the trend continues. Heavy rainfall may continue to occur at different parts of the country until August 17, aggravating the current flood situation here further, said Omar Farroque, a meteorologist at the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). He said over 300 mm of average rain were recorded within 12 days of this August, which is very higher than the normal rainfall. The country was supposed to receive 403 mm of average rain throughout the month. Around 371 mm average rain was recorded all through August in 2016. Abul Kalam Mallik, another BMD meteorologist, said monsoon in Bangladesh spans over four months--June, July, August and September--while light rainfall usually starts occurring after the Bangla month of Baishakh. This year the rain started before the Baishakh. We experienced downpour even in March, an unusual pattern, he said. BMD senior meteorologist Abdul Mannan said the country has been receiving an excessive precipitation this year due to 4-5 depressions formed over the Bay of Bengal during the pre-monsoon period and persisting active monsoon since June, a trend that has not been seen in the past decade. He said Chittagong and Sylhet regions have been experiencing unusual amount of rainfall over the last few years as well as this year. The unusual behaviour of the weather is a major reason behind it. The meteorologists, however, are unwilling to call it a cause of climate change effect without an extensive research on climate variability or examining the 50 years rainfall pattern of the country. But, they fear that countrys weather pattern is going to be more unpredictable in the future as the nature is showing its strange behaviour. They also viewed that although the country is receiving excessive precipitation, it has less contributions to frequent floods this year as waters from the upstream are mainly responsible for flooding in the downstream. According to Met office statistics, the countrys average rainfall was recorded 622 mm in July which is 32.7 percent higher than the normal rainfall. The country experienced 557.8 mm average rainfall last year during the period. In June this year, 457 mm average rain was recorded in the country, which is 3.7 percent higher than the normal rainfall and 144 mm higher than last years.