The Bangladesh Meteorological Department raised alarm over the possibility of days this month getting as hot as 40C as hot and dry conditions persisted in February, the last month of winter.
The forecast frightened millions of the country鈥檚 Muslims, who are observing their month of fasting that began on Sunday with the country鈥檚 highest day temperature of 35C recorded in the coastal town of Patuakhali.
鈥楾his March is going to get really warm,鈥� said Shaheenul Islam, a meteorologist.
Holy Muslim month of the fasting began by not eating 11 hours from morning till afternoon.
March is the first month of the three-month-long pre-monsoon season, the hottest period of the year, when temperature often crosses 40C, particularly in April.
This March is predicted to be drier as well with less than average normal rainfall. One to two heatwaves could sweep the country, the BMD warned, bringing back the memory of extreme heat experienced in March and April past year with one of the longest heatwaves occurring during the time.
In February, the highest day temperature of 34.5C was recorded at Cox鈥檚 Bazar on February 22 amidst the month recording 77 per cent less rainfall than usual, the BMD said.
鈥楾he mean temperature in February was 1.4C higher than the average normal mean temperature,鈥� said Shaheen.
Only two days of cold wave was recorded in February when the night temperature dropped to 8.5C at Srimangal on February 8 and 9, said the BMD in its long-range weather outlook for March released on Sunday.
The coldest winter month January was rather warm. January was 99 per cent deficient in rain as well, while December was 91 per cent deficient in rain.
In January, the average minimum temperature was 1.1C higher than the average normal.
The last winter saw its lowest minimum temperature drop to 7.3C on January 10 in Tetulia.
Temperature dropped frequently below 7C over the past 15 years. Only four other Januaries have been as warm as the one this year, revealed an analysis of 44 years of data from the BMD.
The forecast of hot days has caused worry among farmers, who are farming the staple rice variety boro, the cultivation of which is dependent on lifting groundwater.
Boro meets over half of country鈥檚 rice demand.