Lucknow: As hot weather conditions intensified on Saturday, many parts of Uttar Pradesh reeled under a heatwave, with mercury crossing a record 47 degrees Celsius in Banda, making it the hottest location in the country.
Record-Breaking Temperatures Across the State
While most districts recorded maximum temperatures above 42 degrees Celsius, Lucknow saw a significant rise in mercury, making Saturday the hottest day of the season so far, according to data from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). A total of 40 cities in India experienced heatwave or severe heatwave conditions on Saturday, with about one-third (14) located in Uttar Pradesh.
No relief is expected on Sunday and Monday, as the Met department warned of a heatwave accompanied by dry hot winds (loo) in most parts of eastern UP and some parts of western UP until Monday.
Banda's Scorching Heat
In Banda, severe heatwave prevailed on Saturday with a maximum temperature of 47.4 degrees Celsius, which is 6.2 units above normal. This equals Banda's highest ever maximum temperature in April since the IMD began keeping records in 1951. Previously, on April 29, 2022, Banda had also recorded 47.4 degrees Celsius. This year, Banda has been the hottest in the country four times in the past 10 days.
Other districts in the Bundelkhand region also recorded high temperatures due to the rocky and dry terrain. In Lucknow, the maximum temperature was 42.9 degrees Celsius (3.8 units above normal), while the minimum was 25 degrees Celsius (2.8 notches above normal). Mercury levels have been steadily rising in the city, with Saturday being the hottest day of the summer so far. Temperatures are expected to rise further on Sunday, with a clear sky and maximum and minimum temperatures around 44 and 26 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Other Hotspots in Uttar Pradesh
After Banda, Prayagraj was the second hottest in the state at 45.5 degrees Celsius, followed by Varanasi (45), Jhansi (44.8), and Agra (44.5). Other cities experiencing heatwave conditions included Aligarh, Meerut, Barabanki, Rae Bareli, Ballia, Kanpur, Hardoi, Orai, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, and Muzaffarnagar.
Meteorological Explanation
Mohammad Danish, senior scientist at IMD Lucknow, explained, "Rise in temperatures in the state has been driven by several factors including clear sky allowing direct penetration of sun rays, hot westerly winds coming from the desert region of Rajasthan, and an anticyclone over Maharashtra that is pushing hot air towards UP and also preventing formation of clouds." He added that heatwave conditions are expected to persist in most parts of the state until Monday, with temperatures remaining high during the night.
Relief may come on Tuesday when a western disturbance approaches India. It is likely to cause light rainfall in some parts of western UP and gradually advance towards the east. This would reduce mercury levels by 3-5 degrees Celsius, thus abating the heatwave. However, conditions may turn sultry, raising discomfort levels.
According to the Met department's terminology, a heat wave is considered when the maximum temperature in plains exceeds 45 degrees Celsius and is 4.5-6.4 degrees Celsius above normal. Severe heat wave conditions occur when the maximum temperature exceeds 47 degrees Celsius or is 6.4 degrees Celsius or more above normal.
