Mild heat wave sweeps north pushing back onset of winter

RAJSHAHI: As per the calendar, it's time for the onset of winter, but people in the northern region are still feeling the summer heat and humidity. A mild heat wave is currently sweeping across Rajshahi, forcing people to stay indoors or seek cooler places to avoid the blistering hot weather. According to the Met Office, the temperature is still four to five degrees higher than the normal October temperature. However, there is no forecast of rainfall within next few days, they informed.

Abdul Mannan, officer in charge of the Rajshahi Meteorological office, said a mild heat wave was sweeping the region for the last couple of days.

During the same time last year, the average day temperature was between 25 and 30 degree Celsius, but this year the temperature is fluctuating between 32 to 35 degree Celsius, Mannan added.

On Tuesday, the highest temperature recorded was 35.4 degree Celsius. However, the highest recorded temperature of the year was 40.0 degree Celsius on June 15. In the city, day labourers, rickshaw-pullers and traffic police were seen having difficulties in working and had to take frequent breaks. City dwellers now prefer to rush to their homes soon after completing their daily work.

But the weather has become a boon for the vendors and shops selling seasonal fruits pineapple, green coconut, watermelon, lemon water and sugarcane as consumption of these has increased.

Roads, marketplaces and busy junctions in both rural and urban areas were deserted as people preferred to remain indoors to avoid the heat.

Professor Sultanul-Ul-Islam, Director of the Institute of Environmental Science of Rajshahi University, said such increase in the day temperature even at early winter was due to global warming and change in global temperature. Increase in carbon dioxide in the air and depleting forestry were the main causes behind the increase of global temperature, which is also affecting the climatic pattern of the Bay of Bengal.

Owing to a sudden and untimely formation of low pressure over the Bay, cloud was forming in the sky and thus increasing the day temperature.

Mild heat wave sweeps north pushing back onset of winter

RAJSHAHI: As per the calendar, its time for the onset of winter, but people in the northern region are still feeling the summer heat and humidity. A mild heat wave is currently sweeping across Rajshahi, forcing people to stay indoors or seek cooler places to avoid the blistering hot weather. According to the Met Office, the temperature is still four to five degrees higher than the normal October temperature. However, there is no forecast of rainfall within next few days, they informed. Abdul Mannan, officer in charge of the Rajshahi Meteorological office, said a mild heat wave was sweeping the region for the last couple of days. During the same time last year, the average day temperature was between 25 and 30 degree Celsius, but this year the temperature is fluctuating between 32 to 35 degree Celsius, Mannan added. On Tuesday, the highest temperature recorded was 35.4 degree Celsius. However, the highest recorded temperature of the year was 40.0 degree Celsius on June 15. In the city, day labourers, rickshaw-pullers and traffic police were seen having difficulties in working and had to take frequent breaks. City dwellers now prefer to rush to their homes soon after completing their daily work. But the weather has become a boon for the vendors and shops selling seasonal fruits pineapple, green coconut, watermelon, lemon water and sugarcane as consumption of these has increased. Roads, marketplaces and busy junctions in both rural and urban areas were deserted as people preferred to remain indoors to avoid the heat. Professor Sultanul-Ul-Islam, Director of the Institute of Environmental Science of Rajshahi University, said such increase in the day temperature even at early winter was due to global warming and change in global temperature. Increase in carbon dioxide in the air and depleting forestry were the main causes behind the increase of global temperature, which is also affecting the climatic pattern of the Bay of Bengal. Owing to a sudden and untimely formation of low pressure over the Bay, cloud was forming in the sky and thus increasing the day temperature.