As the month of Poush reaches its midpoint, cold conditions have intensified in Panchagarh, the northernmost district of Bangladesh, mirroring the chill felt across the country.
An icy wind blowing down from the Himalayas has left the district shivering, while dense fog has been enveloping the area from evening until morning. The severe cold has caused particular hardship for low-income people.
According to the Meteorological Department, a mild cold wave has been prevailing over Panchagarh for the past two days. On Friday, the temperature in Tetulia was recorded at 9.4 degrees Celsius at 9am. Earlier, at 6am, the mercury stood slightly higher at 9.6 degrees Celsius.
On the ground, thick fog was seen covering the district from the early hours of the morning. Vehicles were moving with headlights on along busy roads due to poor visibility.
The chilling mountain wind also led to a noticeable drop in pedestrian movement. However, as the morning progressed, the fog began to thin around 9am and the sun started to appear, bringing some relief to residents.
Officials at the Tetulia Meteorological Observatory said that although the temperature was recorded at 9 degrees Celsius at 9am on Thursday, the day’s maximum temperature rose to 23.8 degrees Celsius.
By Friday morning, the district’s lowest temperature dropped to 9.4 degrees Celsius at 9am. At that time, the humidity level was 94 per cent, while wind speeds ranged between 8 and 10 kilometres per hour.
Meteorologists classify a mild cold wave when the minimum temperature ranges between 8.1 and 10 degrees Celsius.
A moderate cold wave is defined as temperatures between 6.1 and 8 degrees Celsius, while temperatures between 4.1 and 6 degrees Celsius indicate a severe cold wave. When the temperature falls below 4 degrees Celsius, it is considered a very severe cold wave.
