Cyclone Remal stayed longer, caused more rain

The severe cyclone Remal made landfall on the Bangladeshi coast on Sunday night. While the cyclone did not cause massive destruction, it lingered for a long time in the Bay of Bengal and on the coast. 

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), Remal was positioned over the coast for nearly 48 hours before it weakened into a depression. As a result, the entire country experienced heavy to very heavy rainfall as well as squally winds. 

From the year 2000 to 2023, the cyclones which made landfall in Bangladesh crossed the land within two to six hours and its effect lingered for 12 hours at best. In this regard, Remal is acting unusually. Rainfall due to the cyclone is expected to continue for two and a half days. 

BMD Director Md Azizur Rahman said the temperature in the Bay of Bengal is high, which is generating more power for the cyclone. Each degree Celcius of temperature rise causes wind flow to rise by 7 per cent, he said. The power generated is later released through rainfall. 

The BMD chief added that when the severe cyclone Remal was formed, the Bay of Bengal was very warm. The usual temperature there should be 26-27 degrees Celcius, however, the temperature has been 29-30 degrees Celcius for the last two months. 

According to Mostofa Kamal Palash, a PhD researcher on meteorology and climate at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, cyclones will continue to have longer duration as a result of climate change. They will also cause more rainfall.