50pc excess rains recorded in April

The rains along with the heat have been unusually high this month. A similar effect was witnessed in the wake of last year’s El Nino, which had robbed the winter of its biting cold. After experiencing temperatures bordering 40 degrees Celsius, the country recorded a total of 8,131 mm of rains till yesterday. This was around 53 per cent higher than the average for April, senior meteorologist Mohammad Abdul Mannan told The Independent.
Mymensingh division recorded the highest rainfall, 102 per cent over the average, causing flash floods in the haor areas (wetlands) of Kishoreganj and Netrokona. The   share of water rolling down the hills in these districts has also increased. But the worst affected was Sylhet division that received 80 per cent above average rainfall. This caused havoc in the vast wetlands of Sunamganj, Maulvi Bazar and Sylhet districts along with the rush of water down the hills from across the border. The excessive rains, particularly in the wetlands, in these districts affected large tracts of Boro rice, which is the region’s only crop, and also dealt a heavy blow to tonnes of sweet water fish, which is a second source of livelihood for local farmers. Large number of ducks, another source of livelihood, was also lost, dealing a further blow to the farmers living in the wetlands. Of the total rainfall in the country, Chittagong had received 83 per cent above average rains, followed by 66.7 per cent above average in Barisal, 43 per cent above average in Khulna, 29 per cent above average in Rajshahi, and 14.5 per cent above average in Dhaka division.
Following 43 per cent above average rainfall in March, the long-range forecast by the meteorological department had predicted a similar trend in April along with heat waves ranging from mild, moderate to severe.
Mannan said nature had turned particularly cruel in April, which had not been witnessed in recent memory, due to the presence of a westerly low pressure over West Bengal in India and adjoining areas in Bangladesh.
The trouble was created by the presence of a trough of the westerly low lying over the Bay of Bengal along the Bangladeshi coast.
The low has led to the higher presence of moisture-laden southerly air conjugating with the heat, generating thunder clouds, Abul Kalam Mallick, another meteorologist, said. This was the trigger for thunderstorms and heavy rains, Mallick added. The two meteorologists agreed that this was an unusual situation, and it needed further studies to find out if it was due to the effects of climate change. On a positive note, Mannan noted that the worst was probably over and the situation would start improving from April 25 onwards with rains slowing down over the country by the end of this month.

50pc excess rains recorded in April

The rains along with the heat have been unusually high this month. A similar effect was witnessed in the wake of last years El Nino, which had robbed the winter of its biting cold. After experiencing temperatures bordering 40 degrees Celsius, the country recorded a total of 8,131 mm of rains till yesterday. This was around 53 per cent higher than the average for April, senior meteorologist Mohammad Abdul Mannan told The Independent. Mymensingh division recorded the highest rainfall, 102 per cent over the average, causing flash floods in the haor areas (wetlands) of Kishoreganj and Netrokona. The share of water rolling down the hills in these districts has also increased. But the worst affected was Sylhet division that received 80 per cent above average rainfall. This caused havoc in the vast wetlands of Sunamganj, Maulvi Bazar and Sylhet districts along with the rush of water down the hills from across the border. The excessive rains, particularly in the wetlands, in these districts affected large tracts of Boro rice, which is the regions only crop, and also dealt a heavy blow to tonnes of sweet water fish, which is a second source of livelihood for local farmers. Large number of ducks, another source of livelihood, was also lost, dealing a further blow to the farmers living in the wetlands. Of the total rainfall in the country, Chittagong had received 83 per cent above average rains, followed by 66.7 per cent above average in Barisal, 43 per cent above average in Khulna, 29 per cent above average in Rajshahi, and 14.5 per cent above average in Dhaka division. Following 43 per cent above average rainfall in March, the long-range forecast by the meteorological department had predicted a similar trend in April along with heat waves ranging from mild, moderate to severe. Mannan said nature had turned particularly cruel in April, which had not been witnessed in recent memory, due to the presence of a westerly low pressure over West Bengal in India and adjoining areas in Bangladesh. The trouble was created by the presence of a trough of the westerly low lying over the Bay of Bengal along the Bangladeshi coast. The low has led to the higher presence of moisture-laden southerly air conjugating with the heat, generating thunder clouds, Abul Kalam Mallick, another meteorologist, said. This was the trigger for thunderstorms and heavy rains, Mallick added. The two meteorologists agreed that this was an unusual situation, and it needed further studies to find out if it was due to the effects of climate change. On a positive note, Mannan noted that the worst was probably over and the situation would start improving from April 25 onwards with rains slowing down over the country by the end of this month.