Dhaka: The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted an increase in the water levels of the country's major rivers throughout August due to ongoing monsoon rainfall. "Due to monsoon heavy rainfall, short-term flooding may occur in the northern, northeastern, and southeastern regions of the country," stated the monthly climate outlook for August released by the weather office on Sunday.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the outlook indicates that rainfall is expected to remain normal across the country. However, one to two low-pressure systems are anticipated to form over the Bay of Bengal, with the potential for one to develop into a monsoon depression. Additionally, thunderstorms are expected on five to six days during the month, and both day and night temperatures are forecasted to remain above normal throughout the nation. The weather office also predicts one to two mild to moderate heatwaves, with temperatures ranging from 36 to 39.9 degrees Celsius at isolated locations during August.
The outlook was formulated after a meeting of the Expert Team on Long-Range Weather Forecasting, which convened at the Storm Warning Centre in Dhaka on August 2. The team analyzed various meteorological data and trends from July 2026, noting that Bangladesh experienced 35.6 percent above-normal rainfall during the previous month. While normal rainfall was recorded in the Mymensingh Division, all other divisions experienced above-normal precipitation.
In July, three low-pressure areas formed over the Bay of Bengal, with two intensifying into monsoon depressions. The first system developed on July 2 and intensified into a monsoon depression by July 5 before weakening. The second system appeared on July 15, intensified briefly, and then weakened by July 17. The third system, which formed on July 25, developed into a deep depression by July 27, crossing the West Bengal-Odisha coast on July 28 before weakening.
Throughout July, heavy to very heavy rainfall was reported in many areas due to the active southwest monsoon and the influence of well-marked lows and monsoon depressions. The highest daily rainfall, 329 mm, was recorded at Ambagan in Chattogram on July 8. July also saw a mild heatwave affecting some regions, with the highest temperature reaching 37.6 degrees Celsius in Rangpur on July 4, and the lowest temperature recorded at 22.0 degrees Celsius in Sylhet on July 22.