Depression, floods and cyclones likely in August: BMD

Bangladesh is likely to witness a range of atmospheric events, including depression, low pressure, heatwaves, and floods in August, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).

In its long-term forecast for August, the BMD predicted the possibility of one to two monsoon low pressures, which may potentially develop into seasonal depressions, in addition to the regular rainfall. 

The country may also experience a mild heatwave, leading to higher day and night temperatures, stated the BMD report.

Moreover, heavy rains may cause short-term flooding in certain regions, particularly in parts of the northern, north-eastern, and south-eastern hilly areas.

The BMD also reported that July experienced 51% less rainfall than the average, which is the period when the country usually receives its highest average rainfall. 

However, the amount is slightly higher than the rainfall recorded in July last year, which was 58% less than normal, as confirmed by BMD Meteorologist Bajlur Rashid.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday afternoon, a cyclone named 4B formed in the Bay of Bengal and made landfall over Barishal and Khulna divisions, according to Mostafa Kamal Palash, a PhD researcher on weather and climate at Saskatchewan University in Canada, who reported the development to The Business Standard.

The cyclone underwent various stages of development, starting as a depression in the southeast Bay of Bengal and later intensifying into a low pressure system before becoming a deep depression and eventually a cyclone after 3pm, based on the information from the US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

The cyclone, 4B, marks the fourth cyclone to form in the Bay of Bengal in 2023. 

At 3pm on the same day, the centre of the cyclone was approximately 150 km southwest of Chattogram. 

Maximum wind speeds measured at the cyclone's centre were around 65 km/h with gusts of up to 83 km/h. Between 9am and 3pm, the cyclone moved northwest at a speed of 30 km per hour, making landfall along the coast of Barishal and Khulna divisions.

As a result of the inclement weather, several fishing trawlers reportedly sank in the sea, and some houses along the sea shore were destroyed.