- Climate of Dhaka
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Coordinates: 23°42′0″N 90°22′30″E / 23.7°N 90.375°E
Cresent lake at night
The climate of Dhaka experiences a hot, wet and humid tropical climate. Under the Koppen climate classification, Dhaka has a tropical wet and dry climate. The city has a distinct monsoonal season, with an annual average temperature of 25 °C (77 °F) and monthly means varying between 18 °C (64 °F) in January and 29 °C (84 °F) in August.[1] Nearly 80% of the annual average rainfall of 1,854 millimetres (73.0 in) occurs during the monsoon season which last from May till the end of September.[1] Increasing air and water pollution emanating from traffic congestion and industrial waste are serious problems affecting public health and the quality of life in the city.[2] Water bodies and wetlands around Dhaka are facing destruction as these are being filled up to construct multi-storied buildings and other real estate developments. Coupled with pollution, such erosion of natural habitats threatens to destroy much of the regional biodiversity.[2]
Climate data for Dhaka Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Average high °C (°F) 24
(76)27
(80)31
(87)32
(89)33
(91)31
(88)32
(90)31
(88)31
(87)31
(87)28
(83)25
(77){{{year high C}}}
(85)Average low °C (°F) 14
(58)17
(63)22
(72)25
(77)26
(79)27
(81)27
(81)27
(81)27
(80)25
(77)21
(69)16
(61){{{year low C}}}
(73)Precipitation mm (inches) 8
(0.3)20
(0.8)58
(2.3)117
(4.6)267
(10.5)358
(14.1)399
(15.7)318
(12.5)257
(10.1)163
(6.4)30
(1.2)5
(0.2)1,979
(77.9)Source: weatherbase.com [1] Contents
Factors
Dhaka has a tropical wet and dry climate. The monsoon season brings nearly 80% of the annual average rainfall of 1,854 millimeters (73 in) occurs between May and September.[3]
- Southwest Monsoon occurs from June till September during the summer months. During this period very heavy rainfall lashes the city as well as the entire country. Flash floods is common in Dhaka almost every year.
- Tropical Storms do occur during the summer months from April till June and then from September till December. These cyclones occur almost every year in Bangladesh though their intensity varies from year to year.
- Tornados are fairly common in Bangladesh as it is one of the most frequently hit countries in the world, behind the United States and Canada.[4]
Impact of Climate change
Climate change has forced many people of Bangladesh living in rural areas to migrate to cities that has caused a sharp rise in the slum population of Dhaka.[5] As Bangladesh is already less than 20 feet above sea level, thus there are fears that by the end of the 21st century, more than a quarter of the country will be inundated and 15 million people will be displaced.[6] Dhaka which has a population of 13 million people, its population is projected to increase to 20 million by the year 2025 raising the fears of water-borne diseases and outbreak of several other diseases.[7] While a UN and WWF report warned that Dhaka tops the risk of climate change in Asia.[8]
List of cyclones that affected Dhaka and the Bangladesh coast
1991 Bangladesh cyclone near peak intensityWettest tropical cyclones in Bangladesh Precipitation Storm Location Rank (mm) (in) 1 452 17.8 03B 2005 [9] 2 ~300 ~12.00 Rashmi 2008 [10] 3 280 11.02 Monsoon Depression - Sep. 2004 Barisal[11] 4 227.2 8.94 Trop. Depression - Oct. 2004 Rangpur[12] 5 220.0 8.66 Bhola 1970 [13] 6 200 7.87 Sidr 2007 [14] 7 130 5.11 Aila 2009 Chittagong[15] 8 129 5.07 Bijli 2009 [16] 9 53 2.13 Akash 2007 [17] Main article: List of Bangladesh tropical cyclonesBangladesh witness cyclones almost every year though there intensity varies from year to year. The 1970 Bhola cyclone is the most deadly cyclone in its history. Following is the list of cyclones of 21st century that affected the Bangladesh coast.
- In November 2002, Cyclone BOB 01 hit Bangladesh as a weak tropical depression.
- In October 2005, Cyclone 03B hit Bangladesh.
- In May 2007, Cyclone Akash made landfall south of Chittagong.
- In November 2007, Cyclone Sidr makes landfall on southern Bangladesh, causing over 2,000 deaths and severe damage.[18]
- In 2008, Cyclone Rashmi caused heavy downpour in Bangladesh.
- In April 2009, Cyclone Bijli caused heavy rainfall along the Bangladesh coast.
- In May 2009, Cyclone Aila killed 121 people in the country.
- In October 2010, Cyclone Giri caused heavy rainfall in the extreme eastern parts of the country.
Monsoon rainfall of Dhaka
The Monsoon season begins from June till September. The following is the annual monsoon rainfall for the last few years based on data from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.[19]
- In 2000, a total of 5,220 millimetres (206 in) was recorded.
- In 2001, a total of 5,590 millimetres (220 in) was recorded.
- In 2002, a total of 7,257 millimetres (285.7 in) was recorded.
- In 2003, a total of 4,934 millimetres (194.3 in) was recorded.
- In 2004, a total of 8,308 millimetres (327.1 in) was recorded.
Flooded street in Dhaka during the 2004 massive rainfall- In 2005, a total of 6,903 millimetres (271.8 in) was recorded.
- In 2006, a total of 7,137 millimetres (281.0 in) was recorded.
- In 2007, a total of 8,895 millimetres (350.2 in) was recorded.
- In 2008, a total of 6,712 millimetres (264.3 in) was recorded.
- In 2009, a total of 6,252 millimetres (246.1 in) was recorded.
- In 2010, a total of 5,016 millimetres (197.5 in) was recorded.
Extreme weather events
The extreme weather events include tropical cyclones, tornado, cloudburst and flash floods.
- In 1956, about 326 millimetres (12.8 in) of rain was recorded in 24 hours in Dhaka.[20]
- In 1970, a Category-3 tropical cyclone killed 500,000 people.[21]
- In 1989, a deadly tornado killed 1,300 people in Dhaka Division.[22]
- In 1991, a Category-5 tropical cyclone killed 138,866 people in the country.[23]
- In 2004, record-breaking 341 millimetres (13.4 in) mm of rain was recorded in Dhaka in 24 hours..[24]
- In 2010, about 333 millimetres (13.1 in) of rain was recorded in Dhaka..[25]
References
- ^ a b c "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Dhaka, Bangladesh". weatherbase.com. http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=032914&refer=/. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
- ^ a b Mondal, M. Abdul Latif (2006-09-27). "Our Cities: 15th Anniversary Special". The Daily Star. http://www.thedailystar.net/suppliments/2006/15thanniv/ourcities/ourcities28.htm. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
- ^ http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=032914&refer=/
- ^ http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/
- ^ http://www.citiesalliance.org/ca/node/420
- ^ http://www.citiesalliance.org/ca/node/420
- ^ http://www.preventionweb.net/english/professional/publications/v.php?id=4292
- ^ Fogarty, David (2009-11-12). "Dhaka tops risk table in Asia climate threat study". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSP480964.
- ^ http://www.dawn.com/2005/10/06/welcome.htm
- ^ "Bangladesh: Tropical Cyclone Rashmi" (PDF). United Nations. 2008. http://epmaps.wfp.org/maps/02858_20081028_BGD_A3_OMEP_Bangladesh,_Tropical_Cyclone_Rashimi,_26_October_2008.pdf. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
- ^ Padgett, Gary; Kevin Boyle, John Wallace, Huang Chunliang, and Simon Clarke (2005-05-17). "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary September 2004". Australian Severe Weather Index. Jimmy Deguara. http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2005/summ0409.htm. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
- ^ Padgett, Gary; Kevin Boyle, John Wallace, Huang Chunliang, and Simon Clarke (2005-05-17). "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary October 2004". Australian Severe Weather Index. Jimmy Deguara. http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2005/summ0410.htm. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
- ^ India Meteorological Department (1970). "Annual Summary — Storms & Depressions" (PDF). India Weather Review 1970. pp. 10–11. http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/cd024_pdf/005ED281.pdf#page=10. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
- ^ "Cyclone Sidr Rainfall Total". NASA. 2007. http://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/en/imgdata/topics/2007/img/tp071212_04.jpg. Retrieved June 15, 2009.
- ^ Staff Writer (2009). "Cyclone Aila Preliminary Report" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. http://www.imd.gov.in/section/nhac/dynamic/aila.pdf. Retrieved June 15, 2009.
- ^ Hal Pierce and Rob Gutro (April 20, 2009). "Hurricane Season 2009: Bijli (Northern Indian Ocean)". NASA. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/archives/2009/h2009_bijli.html. Retrieved May 23, 2009.
- ^ International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (2007). "Bangladesh: Cyclonic Storm Information Bulletin No. 01/2007". http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/YSAR-73ASHX?OpenDocument&rc=3&emid=TC-2007-000060-BGD. Retrieved 2007-05-17.
- ^ "Cyclone death toll mounts to 2388 in Bangladesh (2nd Roundup)". Monsters & Critics. 2007-11-17. http://news.monstersandcritics.com/southasia/news/article_1374451.php/Cyclone_death_toll_mounts_to_2388_in_Bangladesh__2nd_Roundup_. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
- ^ http://www.bmd.gov.bd/Monsoon_rain/Dhk_mon_rain.html
- ^ http://www.independent-bangladesh.com/environment-news/cloud-burst-breaks-53year-record.html
- ^ http://www.research.noaa.gov/spotlite/2007/spot_cyclone.html
- ^ http://www.bangladeshtornadoes.org/climo/btorcli0.htm
- ^ http://www.swissre.com/resources/dd6346004d4e9669ac76eecedd316cf3-sigma2_2009_e.pdf
- ^ http://www.independent-bangladesh.com/environment-news/cloud-burst-breaks-53year-record.html
- ^ http://www.independent-bangladesh.com/environment-news/cloud-burst-breaks-53year-record.html
Categories:- Climate by city
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