Heavy thunderstorms forecast in 15 districts, including Dhaka

DHAKA: Moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied by intense lightning is likely in 15 districts, including Dhaka, according to meteorologist Mostofa Kamal Palash, a PhD researcher at the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada.

He shared the forecast in a post on his verified Facebook account on Wednesday (November 11).

Palash said moderate to heavy rain accompanied by lightning was likely to sweep across Dhaka and surrounding districts between 6am and 9am.

He further warned that the same weather conditions could affect Dhaka, Manikganj, Munshiganj, Faridpur, Shariatpur, Madaripur, Gazipur, Narsingdi, Narayanganj, Chandpur, Lakshmipur, Cumilla, Jhenaidah, Magura and Gopalganj between 6am and 11am.

Meanwhile, heavy rain accompanied by intense lightning hit the capital early Wednesday. The rainfall began around 5:45am and continued until approximately 6:15am.

Several areas, including New Market, Green Road, Farmgate, Tejgaon, Kalabagan, Shahbagh and Banglamotor, experienced thunderstorms.

Earlier, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department had also forecast rainfall in Dhaka and several other parts of the country.

In a forecast issued for the period from 5:30am to 1pm on Wednesday, the Met Office said temporary gusty or squally winds reaching speeds of 45–60 kilometres per hour could sweep across the Dhaka, Faridpur and Cumilla regions.

Rain or thundershowers are also likely in these areas. River ports in the regions have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal No. 1.