Sizzling Friday: Banda hottest in country for second day at 45.4℃; heatwave conditions expected in 2-3 days

Lucknow: As heatwave-like conditions intensified, Banda in Uttar Pradesh remained the hottest in the country for the second consecutive day on Friday.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also issued a heatwave alert for UP, warning of a further rise in temperatures over the next few days.A heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature is 4.5 to 6.4 degrees Celsius above normal. The heatwave is also announced when the maximum temperature in a city is recorded at 45 degrees Celsius or above.On Friday, Banda sizzled at 45.4 degrees Celsius, 4.9 degrees above normal, while Prayagraj was close second at 44 degrees Celsius, 4.1 degrees above normal.Many cities, mostly in the Bundelkhand region and east UP, recorded their hottest days of this summer season. A few of them were also from the western parts of the state.While Jhansi recorded 43.2 degrees Celsius, Hamirpur and Agra 42.2 each, Varanasi (BHU) 41.6, Sultanpur, Ayodhya and Kanpur (IAF) 41, Rae Bareli 40.9, Mirzapur 40.8, Orai 40.6, Hardoi and Varanasi (AP) 40.5, Aligarh 40.4 and Kanpur city 40. These temperatures were 3-4 degrees above normal.In Lucknow, the maximum temperature was 39.8 degrees Celsius, the same as Thursday. The minimum stood at 21.5 degrees Celsius. While early morning and late evening were relatively tolerable, the afternoon was harsh, making the outdoor temperature felt like 42-43 degrees Celsius due to concrete structures all around.The state met department predicted that hot conditions will intensify in the city. The sky will be clear on Saturday with the maximum and minimum temperatures expected to be around 41 and 22 degrees Celsius respectively.Senior scientist at the state met department Mohammad Danish said that light rainfall occurred in northwestern regions of the state bordering Uttarakhand due to a western disturbance on Friday, but rest of the UP remained dry.“Clear skies, intense solar radiation and persistent dry westerly winds from the desert regions of Rajasthan have combined to push daytime temperatures sharply upward. An anticyclone over interior Maharashtra is expected to make weather conditions harsher in the next two to three days,” he predicted.Authorities have advised residents to avoid direct sun exposure during peak afternoon hours, stay hydrated and take necessary precautions as the state heads towards more intense summer conditions in the coming days.