Weather breezing towards hotter spells: IMD

Lucknow: As steady rise of mercury continued, maximum temperature in the state capital touched 40 degrees Celsius mark for the first time in May, on Saturday.

A series of thunder showers that lashed the city and state for first 10 days of the month kept temperature below normal in the first half of May, considered to be prime summer month when mercury levels usually hover between 40-45 degrees Celsius.

Experts at the India Meteorological Department, Lucknow, said temperatures started rising after factors responsible for thunderstorms fizzled out a week ago. The rise will continue and may touch 43 degrees Celsius by the weekend.

Hot conditions were also reported from other parts of the states on Sunday with Banda recording highest maximum temperature 44.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Jhansi 44.1 and Prayagraj at 44.

IMD senior scientist Mohammad Danish warned that heat to severe heatwave conditions may return to southern parts of the state between May 19 and May 22.