In a shift from the usual weather pattern, Bangladesh has witnessed around 50 percent more rainfall in the first nine months of 2020, compared to the average rainfall in the corresponding period during the last 30 years.
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), an average 363.621 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in the country between January and September. The average rainfall recorded in the same period over the last 30 years was 246.155mm.
Due to excessive rain, the country has also experienced the second longest spell of flooding this year since 1998, when the floods stayed for 63 days. This year, the duration of the floods was 61 days -- from July 27 to September 30.
Experts claim the massive rainfall this year was due to a warm air mass, which is a consequence of global warming.
"Global warming is a reason. More heat means more vapour and more rain. The weather is becoming unpredictable and at the same time, uncertainty is increasing," said Professor Emeritus Ainun Nishat of Brac University's Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research.
This year, seasonal wind has lasted longer and that was why we have experienced excessive rain, he also told thedailystar.net.
