Lucknow: As scorching westerly winds and clear skies intensified heat conditions, state capital remained under a rising summer spell on Sunday, with dry weather pushing temperatures above normal and signalling harsher conditions in the coming days.On Sunday, city recorded maximum temperature of 41.6 degrees Celsius, 1.4 degrees above normal, while minimum temperature settled at 26.6 degrees Celsius, 1.3 degrees above normal. The humidity levels ranged between 24% and 69%, adding to the discomfort among the residents.Officials from India Meterological Department (IMD) Lucknow said dry conditions prevailed across the state and forecast a further rise in temperatures in Lucknow on Monday, with maximum likely to touch 43 degrees Celsius and minimum around 27 degrees Celsius. A heatwave warning has been issued for a few places in UP, with clear skies expected to persist over the next 24 hours.Senior scientist at IMD Lucknow, Mohammad Danish, said persistent hot westerly winds and the absence of cloud cover were responsible for the rise in temperatures. “With no sign of any active weather system, the city and nearby areas are likely to witness severe heat conditions accompanied by hot dry winds over the next few days,” he said.Across the state, the heat was more intense in southern districts. Banda recorded the highest maximum temperature in Uttar Pradesh and the country at 46.4 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest location in Asia on Sunday.Other cities reporting high temperatures included Jhansi at 44.6 degrees Celsius, Prayagraj at 44.5 degrees Celsius, Hamirpur at 44.2 degrees Celsius, and Orai at 43.8 degrees Celsius.
