Light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms is likely over Dhaka and its surrounding districts by 10 PM on Sunday, May 11, according to Mostofa Kamal Polash, a weather and climate researcher at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada.

Polash shared the weather update in a post from his verified Facebook account on Sunday afternoon. He mentioned that the likelihood of rainfall with thunderstorm activity is significant over Dhaka city and adjacent districts between 5:30 PM and 10 PM. The probability is particularly higher over the eastern, northern, and southern parts of Dhaka.

In the same post, he also forecast rain in several other regions, including Gazipur, Tangail, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Cumilla, Feni, Chattogram, Khagrachari, and Rangamati, within the same evening time frame. The forecast suggests that multiple parts of central and southeastern Bangladesh may experience varying levels of precipitation by nightfall.

In addition to local weather conditions, Mostofa Kamal Polash expressed concern over potential cyclone activity forming in the Bay of Bengal. Based on current atmospheric observations, he noted the strong possibility of a tropical cyclone developing between May 23 and 28. If formed, the cyclone will likely be named ‘Shakti’, a name contributed by Sri Lanka to the regional cyclone naming system.

He elaborated that the system, if it develops, could make landfall anywhere between India’s Odisha coast and Bangladesh’s Chattogram coast, with the most probable impact zone being West Bengal in India and the Khulna division of Bangladesh. While the cyclone has not yet formed, the current oceanic and atmospheric conditions are described as conducive to cyclonic development.

According to Polash, the situation appears to be evolving toward a cyclonic formation, and it is likely only a matter of time before such a system emerges. In his post, he urged residents in potentially affected regions to remain alert and follow weather updates in the coming days.

He clarified that no official warning has been issued yet regarding Cyclone Shakti, but monitoring is ongoing, and authorities are expected to release appropriate advisories should the system begin forming. The researcher emphasized the importance of early awareness to mitigate potential risks associated with severe weather events.