Cyclone ‘Varda’ is advancing towards the south Indian shore near Chennai, in Tamil Nadu, instead of its projected landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast, gaining strength after roosting over the west-central Bay of Bengal since its formation on Friday. As it clears off the Bay, it is likely to open the door to winter chill in Bangladesh. Temperatures may start falling in the next 72 hours, coinciding with the last days of Agrahayan with the arrival of the first day of Poush on Friday. Sources in the meteorological department said once Varda leaves the Bay, drying up its accompanying moisture in the air, it would allow the first chill of winter to gain strength.
Temperatures have already started falling in northern Bangladesh, with fog blanketing the sun for most of the morning. North-western Chuadanga recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 10.4 degrees Celsius yesterday, followed by 10.5 degrees C in Tetualia and Rajarhat, 10.8 degrees C in Rajshahi, 11.6 degrees C in Dinajpur, 12.4 degrees C in Jessore, 12.5 degrees C in Kushtia and 12.6 degrees C in Rangpur, indicating how the mercury was falling in northern parts of the country. In Dhaka, far away in the central plains, it was 16.2 degrees C, with a maximum of 28.2 degrees C.