3 heatwaves to follow

At least one severe heatwave will hit northern and central parts of the country, including the capital, while two medium to minor heatwaves the other areas this month, according to the weather forecast.

This seems quite hard to anticipate when people are in relief from the scorching sun as the current spell of rain has reduced the overall temperature by three to four degrees Celsius in most places of the country.

A low over the south Bay, which partially affected Bangladesh, caused the rain, Met officials said.

Along with the warning message, Bangladesh Meteorological Department also forecast that the rainfall would be normal this month. The country will see eight to ten rainy days in this month whereas last month had 61.2 percent less rainfall compared to the previous years.

There is a possibility of two depressions in the Bay, causing rainfall almost all over the country. At least two nor'westers will lash the northern and the central parts in April, Dhaka Met office said.

In the last three days, over 100 millimetre rainfall was measured in the capital. City dwellers also felt norwester-like gusty wind that, according to meteorologists, was normal at this time, just one week before Baisakh, the first month of Bangla calendar.

The rain is very good for standing crops, according to Agromet, an agriculture metrological service for farmers.

A Met official in Dhaka yesterday said, "The rain in this season is very good for standing crops if it is not hailstorm. Luckily, we have not so far had any hailstorm."

In this week beginning on Sunday, light to moderate rain or thunder shower will take place in most places of Sylhet, Chittagong and Barisal, the Met office said.

Meanwhile, Dhaka Electric Supply Authority (Desa) said power distribution had improved due to decrease in electricity consumption for irrigation.

On April 5 before the rain, the demand for electricity was 1154 megawatt in the capital and four surrounding districts-- Munshiganj, Gazipur, Narsingdi and Narayanganj while it was only 885 megawatt yesterday, said Kamrun Nahar Nur, public relations officer of Desa.

People are using air conditioners less than before as the temperature has dropped, she said.

There were, however, usual power cuts yesterday afternoon in Dhaka city as power supply went down to 3,700 megawatt from 4,500 MW a week ago.

The situation would have been better had the electricity production not decreased, she said.

The Desa official, however, could not give any reason behind the low power supply.