Winter's Chill Grips Ganges Delta, Clouds Form a T-Shaped Blanket Over the Bay of Bengal.
A striking image from NASA's Terra satellite captured on January 6, 2026, reveals the Ganges Delta shrouded in low-lying clouds that stretch over the flat fertile lands of India and Bangladesh. The scene is characteristic of the region's winter weather pattern, where dense fog forms when ground temperatures are cool, winds are light, and moisture is abundant near the surface.
The image shows a distinct T-shaped area of low white clouds, with parallel bands of clouds extending from land areas to over the Bay of Bengal. These long, rotating cylinders of cloud, known as cloud streets, form when cold air passes over warmer open water, gaining heat and moisture. Rising thermals ascend until they reach a temperature inversion that acts like a lid, forcing the air to roll into these parallel rolling clouds.
While the image may appear scenic from above, dense fog can pose significant hazards on the ground. For instance, earlier in the month, foggy conditions caused major disruptions at the international airport in Dhaka, with flights diverted one after another due to poor visibility. Similar disruptions were reported in parts of northern, central, and eastern India, along with travel delays on roads and railways.
The region's meteorological departments had forecasted moderate to very dense fog over the area amid an ongoing cold wave. NASA's Earth Observatory image highlights the impact of winter weather patterns on the Ganges Delta and surrounding regions, underscoring the importance of monitoring climate conditions in this vital agricultural hub.
A striking image from NASA's Terra satellite captured on January 6, 2026, reveals the Ganges Delta shrouded in low-lying clouds that stretch over the flat fertile lands of India and Bangladesh. The scene is characteristic of the region's winter weather pattern, where dense fog forms when ground temperatures are cool, winds are light, and moisture is abundant near the surface.
The image shows a distinct T-shaped area of low white clouds, with parallel bands of clouds extending from land areas to over the Bay of Bengal. These long, rotating cylinders of cloud, known as cloud streets, form when cold air passes over warmer open water, gaining heat and moisture. Rising thermals ascend until they reach a temperature inversion that acts like a lid, forcing the air to roll into these parallel rolling clouds.
While the image may appear scenic from above, dense fog can pose significant hazards on the ground. For instance, earlier in the month, foggy conditions caused major disruptions at the international airport in Dhaka, with flights diverted one after another due to poor visibility. Similar disruptions were reported in parts of northern, central, and eastern India, along with travel delays on roads and railways.
The region's meteorological departments had forecasted moderate to very dense fog over the area amid an ongoing cold wave. NASA's Earth Observatory image highlights the impact of winter weather patterns on the Ganges Delta and surrounding regions, underscoring the importance of monitoring climate conditions in this vital agricultural hub.