Monsoon to bid adieu, cold breeze to be felt by months end

The queen of nature, the rainy season, has already bid farewell. Following this, the enchanting autumn, graced with white clouds and the delicate blooms of Kashful, is also coming to a close. Yet, the aftereffects of the rain persist, with showers continuing across the country. The Meteorological Department has announced that the southwest monsoon will gradually leave Bangladesh by October 25. Afterward, dry cold winds from the Himalayas will begin to sweep in through the northern region of Rangpur. This autumn, named after the stars Krittika and Ardra, is set to bring a sharp chill, and this winter is expected to be colder than usual in Bengal, according to weather forecasts.

Weather expert Dr. Abul Kalam Mallik told Views Bangladesh, "Typically, the southwest monsoon leaves Bangladesh in the first half of October, departing earlier from Rangpur. However, this time there is a slight delay. After October 25, the southwest monsoon will gradually leave the entire country."

He said, "October is prone to cyclones. During this time, multiple systems formed in the sea. This month, there is a high possibility of cyclones. Moderate to severe thunderstorms may occur in the northern and central regions for two to four days, and light to moderate thunderstorms may happen across the country for three to five days. Day and night temperatures may gradually decrease, but they will still remain slightly higher than normal. Regarding flood forecasts, the agency stated that the main rivers in the country will maintain a normal flow in October. However, due to heavy rainfall, the likelihood of any flooding situation arising is low."


Meanwhile, Mustafa Kamal Palash, a weather and climate researcher at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, has analyzed weather forecasting models and said, "Starting from the last week of October, cold winds will begin to enter the country through Panchagarh. These winds will gradually spread across the entire country. This winter is likely to be colder than usual, with more cold waves expected in December and January compared to previous years. There will also be prolonged heavy fog."

"Between October 15 and 25 this year, there is a possibility of a cyclone forming in the Bay of Bengal. Historically, cyclones have struck Bangladesh during this time in October. In October 2022, Cyclone 'Sitrang' and in October 2023, Cyclone 'Hamun' formed. Both of these cyclones directly impacted the coastal areas of Khulna and Barisal in Bangladesh, he added.

Meteorologist Dr. Md. Bazlur Rashid noted that the axis of the monsoon winds extends from Bihar through West Bengal and the central regions of Bangladesh to Assam. The southwest monsoon is currently fairly active over Bangladesh and is in a weak to moderate state in the northern Bay of Bengal. By the end of October, the southwest monsoon is expected to depart from the country, which may lead to a decrease in rainfall. During this time, cold winds from the north will enter through the Rangpur region and will gradually spread throughout the country. He said, "This winter may feel colder than usual, with both maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be lower."