Heat waves are increasing in April DS Bangla

April’s mild to moderate heat wave has been prolonged over the years, a study has found.

Meteorologist Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallick, who studied 43 years of April temperature data, said the shortest duration of April heat wave between 1981 and 2023 was two days and the longest was 23 days.

Rajshahi, Jessore, Pabna, Chuadanga and Satkhira recorded the highest temperatures in April.

Temperatures between 36 and 40 degrees Celsius are considered mild to moderate heatstroke.

However, the number of days recording temperatures of 40-42 degrees and above 42 degrees Celsius did not increase.

Meteorologist Mallik of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department said that the intense to very intense heat wave lasts for a maximum of six days.

There were at least two days of mild to moderate heatwaves every April for 43 years. In recent years, these temperatures have sometimes persisted for more than three weeks.

People’s lives have already become miserable due to severe heatwave and four days of severe to very severe heatwave have already been recorded this April.

According to the yet-to-be-published study, the northern, southern and southwestern districts of the country recorded the highest temperatures. Heat wave continued in some districts for more than one-third of April.

A study of 43 years of data showed that during this period there were a total of 1,290 days in April. Out of which 186 days in Dhaka, 193 days in Tangail, 284 days in Satkhira, 135 days in Rangamati, 146 days in Bogra and Madaripur and 265 days in Faridpur have been recorded.

At present, mild to very intense heat wave is going on across the country and this situation will continue till the end of this month, according to the Meteorological Department.

From 1981 to 1988, there were two heatwave days in April. Five days in 1988, 10 days in 1991, nine days in 1992, 16 days in 1994, 23 days in 1995, 17 days in 2001, 16 days in 2008, 17 days in 2009, 23 days in 2014 and April 2023. The heat wave was 17 days.

In April 1989, when a severe to very severe heat wave occurred, it lasted for three days. Five days in 1992, four days in 1995; Extreme heat waves continued for two days per year from 1997-2004, four days per year in 2009-2010, six days in 2014, two days in 2016 and three days per year in 2022-2023.

The ongoing heatwave in the country may continue for the next 72 hours from Monday, according to the meteorologist of the Meteorological Department. In the warning signed by Bazlur Rashid.

The Meteorological Office has issued a heatwave warning for 72 hours yesterday.

Meteorologist AKM Nazmul Haque said, due to high humidity, the temperature is felt four to five degrees higher than the actual temperature.

Last April 21, Chuadanga recorded the highest temperature of this month at 42.6 degrees Celsius.

Nazmul Haque said that a heatwave warning has been issued for 72 hours by the Meteorological Office yesterday so that various government agencies take necessary measures.

He said that the warning will be issued again stating that the temperature may rise further from Tuesday.

There is no forecast of rainfall across the country except for a few places in Sylhet, Mymensingh and Chittagong divisions.

Earlier on April 19, the Meteorological Department issued a heat alert. It said that the alert was issued for the period from April 19 to 22 morning.

Last yesterday, the alert time was extended till the morning of April 25.