Rajshahi recorded the lowest temperature of the current winter season on Tuesday, with the mercury dropping to 7 degrees Celsius.
This surpasses the previous seasonal low of 7.5 degrees Celsius recorded in Gopalganj on December 31.
Consequently, a mild to moderate cold wave is now sweeping across 10 districts -- Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogura, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Rangamati, Jashore, Kushtia and Chuadanga.
While the north experiences these freezing conditions, the southern coastal town of Teknaf recorded the country's highest temperature at 26.6 degrees Celsius, showcasing a significant regional climate divide.
Interestingly, despite the record lows elsewhere, the capital city of Dhaka saw a slight rise in temperature on Tuesday.
Meteorologists define a moderate cold wave as temperatures between 6.1 and 8 degrees Celsius while a mild wave falls between 8.1 and 10 degrees Celsius.
Severe conditions are marked at 4.1 to 6 degrees Celsius and anything below 4 degrees Celsius is classified as very severe. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted that January may see up to five cold waves, including at least one severe event.
For the next 24 hours, the weather is expected to remain dry with partly cloudy skies.
However, moderate to thick fog is likely from midnight until noon, which may disrupt air, river, and road travel. While both day and night temperatures might see a slight increase, the persistent fog will maintain a cold sensation across the country.
In Dhaka, the sun will set on Tuesday at 5:26 pm and rise on Wednesday at 6:43 am. Officials expect temperatures to fluctuate for a few days before a general rising trend begins around January 10 or 11.
