Lucknow: Residents of the state capital may soon get respite from the prevailing hot and humid conditions as a fresh western disturbance (WD), coupled with strengthening easterly winds, is expected to trigger thunderstorms and rainfall from Sunday. Local weather systems may also bring isolated thunderstorm activity over the next two days.The changing weather pattern is likely to accelerate the advance of the southwest monsoon across Uttar Pradesh (UP). The monsoon’s progress, however, remained stalled for the past three days, with the Northern Limit of Monsoon continuing to pass through Motihari in Bihar on Thursday and yet to enter UP.According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), conditions are becoming favourable for the southwest monsoon to advance into more parts of UP and Uttarakhand during the next three to four days.Mohammad Danish, senior scientist at the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Lucknow, said, “A fresh WD is approaching north India and easterly winds are becoming active over UP. As a result, thunderstorm activity and rainfall are expected from Sunday. This will provide relief from the ongoing weather conditions and also support the advancement of the monsoon to enter the state.”Despite the anticipated change in weather, Lucknow continued to reel under hot and sultry conditions on Thursday. The maximum temperature recorded was 39.9 degrees Celsius, 3.8 degrees above normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 30 degrees Celsius. Humidity levels remained high, with maximum relative humidity at 61% and minimum humidity at 42%, adding to residents’ discomfort.Meanwhile, UP continued to dominate the list of the country’s hottest locations, with 14 cities figuring among the hottest stations on Thursday. Prayagraj emerged as the hottest city at 43 degrees Celsius, followed by Sultanpur at 42.9 degrees Celsius and Agra at 42.6 degrees Celsius. Several other cities, including Varanasi, Bahraich, Ghazipur and Basti, also recorded temperatures above 42 degrees Celsius.
