Lucknow: Although temperatures dropped slightly across most parts of Uttar Pradesh on Monday, the record-breaking heatwave continued unabated in Banda, where the maximum temperature soared to 47.6 degrees Celsius, the highest in 75 years for the month of April. Banda also emerged as the hottest place in the country.
Weather Relief Expected
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), strong winds and thunderstorms may occur in some parts of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday and Wednesday due to a change in weather conditions. This would lead to a drop in mercury levels by a few degrees, but the weather may also turn sultry, increasing discomfort levels.
In Banda, the maximum temperature of 47.6 degrees Celsius was 5.4 units above normal. This is the highest maximum temperature recorded in Banda since 1951, when the meteorological department began keeping records for the district. The previous record was 47.4 degrees Celsius on April 30, 2022, and again on April 25 this year. The all-time hottest day in Banda was June 10, 2019, when the mercury touched 49.2 degrees Celsius.
This was the sixth time in the past 12 days that Banda recorded the highest temperature in the country. Other areas in Bundelkhand also experienced a heatwave. Jhansi recorded 45.2 degrees Celsius, making it the 11th hottest place in the country, while Orai and Hamirpur each recorded 44.2 degrees Celsius.
Other Hotspots in Uttar Pradesh
Other locations in Uttar Pradesh that recorded high temperatures include Agra at 44.4 degrees Celsius, Prayagraj at 44.2 degrees Celsius, Kanpur at 43.8 degrees Celsius, and Aligarh at 43.4 degrees Celsius.
Senior scientist at IMD Lucknow, Mohammad Danish, explained that several factors contributed to the harsh conditions prevailing in the state for the past several days, including a clear sky, dry hot winds from Rajasthan, and an anticyclone over central India.
“In Bundelkhand, the rocky terrain heats up quickly under direct sunlight, causing a sharp rise in temperatures,” he said.
Respite from Heat Likely Today
A day after recording the season's hottest day with the mercury touching 43 degrees Celsius, the maximum temperature in Lucknow dropped to 40.3 degrees Celsius on Monday. The minimum temperature was 24.8 degrees Celsius. The city might witness a further drop of a couple of degrees in the next two days due to changing weather conditions.
Meteorological officials said that a western disturbance has arrived from the Mediterranean Sea to India. Several cyclonic circulations have also developed over Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal has started.
All these factors are expected to cause partly cloudy skies and strong winds in many parts of the state on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thunderstorms may occur at a few places on these days, they added.
