Sultry sun beats down on city again as temp breaches 41 degrees

Bhopal: After a few days of respite from the stifling heat under the sobering impact of prevailing weather systems, the mercury was back on an upward climb in the city and elsewhere across the state on Friday. The maximum temperature in the city was recorded at 41.2°C, signalling another sultry spell.According to the regional meteorological office, the day temperature would rise by two to four degrees over the next four days.However, while the days will be hotter, the Met did hold out hope of occasional breathers as it also warned of thunderstorms, accompanied by lightning and gusty winds for many places in the state over the weekend and into the coming week.The day temperature in the city on Friday was in the normal range for this time of year, and so was the minimum overnight temperature at 25.8°C.Ratlam in western Madhya Pradesh was the hottest in the state on the day, with the mercury soaring to 43.5°C.Over the last 24 hours, till 8.30 am on Friday, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and rain was recorded in Anuppur, Chhatarpur, Chhindwara, Damoh, Jabalpur, Katni, Mandla, Panna, Rewa, Sagar, Satna, Tikamgarh, Pandhurna, Bhind, Datia, Gwalior, Sheopur and Shivpuri districts.Bhind, Shivpuri and Chhatarpur districts reported hailstorms over the same period of time.The Met office, meanwhile, forecast clear skies for the city on Saturday, with the day and night temperatures likely to be at 39 and 26 degrees, while the average wind speed will be 18kmph, offering a measure of relief amid sultry conditions.The weather officer, however, flagged a weather alert for the state warning of thunderstorms, accompanied by lightning and gusty wind, in Datia, Bhind, Chhindwara, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Pandhurna, Seoni, Balaghat, Narmadapuram, Betul, Shivpuri, Gwalior, Morena, Singrauli, Sidhi, Rewa, Mauganj, Satna, Anuppur, Shahdol, Umaria, Dindori, Katni, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, Mandla, Panna, Damoh, Sagar, Chhatarpur and Maihar districts.Rain or drizzle is also likely in Narmadapuram, Betul, Shivpuri, Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Morena, Singrauli, Sidhi, Rewa, Mauganj, Satna, Anuppur, Shahdol, Umaria, Dindori, Katni, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, Chhindwara, Seoni, Mandla, Balaghat, Panna, Damoh, Sagar, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Maihar and Pandhurna districts.