Rain brings relief to Dhaka as cyclone ‘Fani’ approaches

The capital city experienced its first rainfall on Friday in more than two weeks, giving its residents some relief from sweltering summer heat and dust.
 
The city’s temperature was recorded 33 degrees Celsius at 3pm – 2.7 degrees Celsius less than Thursday.
 
Dhaka had 10mm rainfall from 6am to noon, said Omar Farroque, a meteorologist at the weather office.
 
"The rain occurred because of the peripheral effects of the severe cyclonic storm ‘Fani’. It’ll likely hit the country in the early hours of Saturday,” he told UNB.

The last time Dhaka experienced rain was on April 13.
 
Friday’s light shower gave the city dwellers some respite from heat and dust.
 
The temperature will continue to fall slightly over the next two or three days, Farroque said.
 
Chances of heavy rain
 
Farroque said the city will likely be battered by heavy rain or thundershower accompanied by gusty wind at Friday night and on Saturday.
 
‘Fani’, which made landfall in India's eastern coastline, will hit Khulna and adjoining southwestern part of Bangladesh by midnight, the Met Office said.
 
A storm surge of 5 feet has also been predicted. This could inundate the low-lying parts of the coastal districts.
 
The coastal districts and their offshore islands and char areas are likely to experience wind speed up to 80-100kmh in gusts/squalls with heavy to very heavy falls during the passage of the storm.
 
The Met Office also forecast heavy (44-88 mm rainfall in 24 hours) to very heavy (89mm/24 hours) in parts of Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Barishal, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Rangpur and Sylhet divisions during next 48 hours commencing 11am Friday.