Lucknow: City recorded its lowest maximum temperature for July in nine years on Monday as thick cloud cover and intermittent rainfall kept daytime conditions unusually cool. The city’s maximum settled at 27.1 degrees Celsius, 6.5 degrees below normal, while the minimum temperature was 24.8 degrees Celsius, 0.9 degrees below normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).IMD data showed the last time Lucknow saw a lower July daytime temperature was on July 10, 2017, when the maximum dipped to 26.4 degrees Celsius. Meteorological records also indicate the city last matched Monday’s maximum temperature on July 20, 1981.Residents began the day under dark, overcast skies with light showers, and rain continued at intervals through the day. Relative humidity remained persistently high, fluctuating between 90% and 97%, adding to the damp conditions despite the cooler air.The IMD forecast an overcast sky on Tuesday with a few spells of rain and thundershowers over Lucknow and adjoining areas, and issued a warning for thunderstorms accompanied by lightning for the city.Senior scientist at the Regional Meteorological Centre, Lucknow, Mohammad Danish, attributed the enhanced monsoon activity to a well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal and the monsoon trough passing over Uttar Pradesh. He said rain activity is expected to continue across the state on Tuesday.Heavy rainfall was recorded elsewhere in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. In western UP, Baheri in Bareilly received 174 mm, followed by Bilaspur in Rampur at 152.4 mm and Powayan in Shahjahanpur at 150.3 mm. In eastern UP, Muhammadi in Kheri logged 160 mm, followed by Mahsi in Bahraich at 127 mm and Bhinga in Shrawasti at 122 mm.
