The expansion of the cold wave across the country has diminished slightly due to a rise in temperatures, said the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
A gradual increase in temperature is expected over the next few days, but another cold wave may commence towards the end of the week, BMD said in its latest weather update on Sunday (12 January).
Reports indicate that the areas affected by the mild cold wave have decreased owing to warmer nighttime temperatures.
Regions such as Rajshahi, Pabna, Naogaon, Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Jessore, Kushtia, Chuadanga, Gopalganj, and Moulvibazar experienced mild to moderate cold waves.
The cold wave persisted only in Panchagarh, Kurigram, Jessore, Gopalganj, and Moulvibazar, with temperatures in these districts dropping below 10 degrees Celsius.
BMD anticipates that the mild cold wave may further recede.
Spread of the cold wave would likely diminish further, with temperatures expected to increase by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius; however, the cold wave could return around Tuesday or Wednesday as temperatures drop again, it added.
BMD stated that Dhaka will continue to experience slightly lower nighttime temperatures, resulting in a persistent feeling of cold, with daytime temperatures gradually rising.
The likelihood of dense fog remains minimal, suggesting that daytime temperatures will continue to increase.
The long-term forecast for January suggests that one to three mild to moderate cold waves and one to two severe cold waves could occur during the month.
A severe cold wave is classified when temperatures drop below 6 degrees Celsius over a large area, while moderate and mild cold waves are defined by minimum temperatures of 6 to 8 degrees Celsius and 8 to 10 degrees Celsius, respectively.
