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September heatwave—a reminder of global warming
Bangladesh Meteorological Department on Friday announced that a mild heatwave was sweeping over parts of Bangladesh, including the divisions of Rangpur and Sylhet.
This is the first time a heatwave has been officially announced this month, the last month of the four-month-long monsoon season.
“The heatwave might abate on Saturday,” said Hafizur Rahman, a meteorologist at the BMD.
A heatwave occurs when the day’s maximum temperature equals or exceeds 36°C in an extended area.
On Friday, Bangladesh’s maximum temperature of 37.5°C was recorded in Saidpur of Rangpur. The day temperature also reached or exceeded 37°C in the Sylhet division.
Dhaka recorded a maximum day temperature of 34.4°C.
Heatwaves in September used to be rare one and a half decades ago.
The BMD report titled Changing Climate of Bangladesh revealed that heatwaves in September were almost non-existent across Bangladesh except for Sylhet, where heatwaves in September started after 2000.
There was only one heatwave in Rajshahi before 2010, considering the data since 1980.
Rangpur, on the other hand, recorded at least a dozen heatwaves in studied Septembers so far, all after 2010.
Heatwaves are still not common in the Barishal and Chattogram divisions.
The BMD report stated that the temperature observations from Bangladesh showed a clear climate signal, with fewer cold outbreaks and more heatwaves in recent decades, and an especially alarming upswing in the heatwave frequency in the monsoon period.
The ongoing heatwave is particularly a fresh reminder of global warming as it happens amidst one of the strongest monsoons in recent times in Bangladesh, reports UNB.