Heavy rains to cause flash floods again

The country’s northern and northeastern regions may witness flash floods in the middle and at the end of this month due to heavy rainfall. 

Floodwater may stay from one to three days in the northeastern districts -- Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj and Netrakona -- in the middle of this month.

It may last for three to five days in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Bogura and Jamalpur towards the end of this month, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) has said in its weather forecast report of August.

“Moderate to heavy rain may continue in the country’s different regions due to ongoing depression in the Bay of Bengal. It will contribute to the rise in water level in different rivers,” said Arifuzzaman Bhuyan, executive engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board and duty officer of FFWC.

It is likely to rain heavily in the country’s northeastern region and its adjacent Meghalaya and Tripura regions of India. It may contribute to the increase in water level in northern rivers. As a result, a short-term flood may occur in some northeastern districts, he told The Daily Star yesterday.

Besides, water level of the Brahmaputra and the Jamuna rivers may cross danger level by the end of this month. Following this, a short-term flood may happen in some northern and northeastern districts by the end of this month, said the FFWC forecast report.

Also, water of the Teesta river may raise rapidly in the middle of this month due to heavy rainfall in the country’s northern region and its adjacent northern region of West Bengal in India.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) yesterday advised the maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra to hoist danger signal No 3 until further notice due to rough weather caused by the depression in the Northwest Bay.   

Besides, all fishing boats and trawlers in the North Bay have been asked to stay close to the coast, according to the BMD’s forecast.

In its daily weather forecast, the BMD said light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty and squally wind is likely to occur at many places in Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Dhaka divisions and at a few places in Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over the country today.

Yesterday’s maximum rainfall in Dhaka was recorded 102mm, which was heavy to very heavy rainfall, according to weather experts.