Bangladesh Meteorological Department on Wednesday confirmed the formation of a low pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal and warned that the low might intensify into a cyclonic storm by tomorrow.
With the potential cyclone brewing over the Bay of Bengal, which will be called Remal if formed, the ongoing heatwave worsened, spreading to 15 districts.
International weather forecasters said that the potential cyclone might make landfall between May 25 and 26.
鈥楾here is a chance for the low pressure to intensify into a cyclonic storm on May 24,鈥� said meteorologist Omar Faruq.
India-based Skymet Weather identified the position of the newly developed weather situation in the Bay of Bengal as 鈥榲ery unusual鈥� at this time of the year.
Normally, the pre-monsoon systems in the month of May originate over the South Andaman Sea and Southeast Bay of Bengal, said Skymet Weather.
Skymet predicted the weather system to turn into a cyclonic storm on May 25 or so.
The USA-based The weather Channel said that the region鈥檚 sea surface temperatures are above 30C, with some areas in the central and northern Bay of Bengal reaching 32C or more, providing the necessary heat and moisture needed for creating a storm.
The forecasts of the path of the cyclone, however, differed significantly covering an areas stretched between Odisha and Myanmar coast.
The cyclone鈥檚 path will significantly impact the monsoon鈥檚 arrival in India. The cyclone鈥檚 movement toward Myanmar could delay the monsoon鈥檚 arrival, said The Weather Channel.
This would be the first cyclonic storm this pre-monsoon season if formed.
India Meteorological Department warned that the weather system might trigger heavy rainfall in areas adjacent to Bangladesh on May 25 and 26.
The IMD prohibited fishermen from venturing into the central Bay of Bengal from May 23, advising them to return to the coast before the date.
On Wednesday, Bangladesh鈥檚 maximum day air temperature of 37.8C was recorded in Sitakunda.
The day temperature in Dhaka dropped to 34.9C.
The BMD said that a mild heat wave sweeping over the districts of Madaripur, Gopalganj, Sylhet, Chattogram,
Rangamati, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni, Bandarban, Khulna, Mongla, Satkhira, Chuadanga, Patuakhali and Bhola and it may continue.
In its 24 hours weather bulletin issued at 6:00pm on Wednesday, the BMD said that rain accompanied by temporary gusty wind was likely to occur at one or two places over Dhaka, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions.
Bangladesh鈥檚 highest rainfall of 80mm in the 24 hours ending at 6:00pm on Wednesday was recorded in Bogura.
The heatwave might begin retreating from tomorrow, the BMD said.