Season’s first Kalbaishakhi hits the capital

The season's first Kalbaishakhi hit the capital and some other parts of the country last afternoon.

Known in English as the "nor'wester", it struck around 4:30pm. Accompanied by light rainfall, it disrupted the lives of city dwellers for around an hour.

It started with a strong breeze, covering city streets with dust, signalling the coming inconvenience to pedestrians.

The wind whizzed at nearly 52 kilometers per hour on average across Dhaka, while it reached about 80 km/hr near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, said meteorological office sources.

The average rainfall in the capital was 24 millimetre, Shamsuddin Ahmed, director, Bangladesh Meteorological Department told The Daily Star.

The official also said they forecast several moderate or strong nor'westers with moderate rain and lightning hitting the country's North, North-East and middle part this month.

Other than Dhaka, yesterday's storm also hit at least 11 other districts, including Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Gazipur, Madaripur, Barishal, Rajbari, and Faridpur.

No major incidents of casualty or damage was reported from the nor'wester so far.

According to today's weather forecast, rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna and Sylhet divisions.

FLIGHTS DISRUPTED

Due to the nor'wester, three flights waiting to land were delayed while four had to abort departure yesterday.

Wind speed was about 30 kts, the director of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport said in a WhatsApp message.

Three flights of Emirates, Biman and Novo Air were waiting overhead to land, he also added.