Heatwave Sweeps Uttar Pradesh: Banda Hits 47.4°C, Hottest in Country

LUCKNOW: As hot weather conditions intensified on Saturday, many parts of the state reeled under heatwave, with the mercury crossing a record 47 degrees Celsius mark in Banda, hottest in the country. While most districts recorded maximum temperatures above 42 degrees Celsius, Lucknow saw a rise in mercury, making Saturday the hottest day of the season so far, according to the data released by Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). A total of 40 cities in the country reeled under heatwave or severe heatwave conditions on Saturday. Of these, about one-third (14) were from Uttar Pradesh. No relief is likely on Sunday and Monday, with the Met department warning of a heatwave along with dry hot winds (loo) in most parts of eastern UP and some parts of west UP till Monday. In Banda, severe heatwave prevailed on Saturday with maximum temperature at 47.4 degree Celsius, 6.2 units above normal. This equaled Banda's highest ever maximum temperature in the month of April since 1951, when the IMD began keeping records in the district. Earlier, on April 29, 2022, Banda had recorded 47.4 degrees Celsius. This year, Banda has been the hottest in the country four times in the past 10 days. Besides Banda, other districts of Bundelkhand region recorded high temperatures due to rocky and dry terrain. In Lucknow, the maximum temperature was recorded at 42.9 degrees Celsius, 3.8 units above normal, while the minimum temperature was 25 degrees Celsius, 2.8 notches above normal. Mercury levels have been steadily rising in the city, breaking records every day. Saturday was the city's hottest day of the summer so far. Temperatures will rise further in the state capital on Sunday as sky will remain clear with maximum and minimum temperatures around 44 and 26 degrees Celsius, respectively. Meanwhile, after Banda, Prayagraj was second hottest in the state with 45.5 degrees Celsius followed by Varanasi (45), Jhansi (44.8) and Agra (44.5). Other cities that reeled under heatwave included Aligarh, Meerut, Barabanki, Rae Bareli, Ballia, Kanpur, Hardoi, Orai, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur and Muzaffaranagar. "Rise in temperatures in the state has been driven by several factors including clear sky allowing direct penetration of sun rays, hot westerly winds coming from desert region of Rajasthan and anticyclone over Maharashtra that is pushing hot air towards UP and also preventing formation of clouds," said Mohammad Danish, senior scientist at IMD, Lucknow. "Heatwave conditions are expected to persist in most parts of the state till Monday. Temperature will also remain high during night," he said. "Relief may come on Tuesday when a western disturbance approaches India. It is likely to cause light rainfall in some parts of western UP and gradually advance towards the east. This would make mercury levels fall by 3-5 degrees Celsius, thus abating the heatwave. At the same time, conditions may turn sultry, raising discomfort levels," he explained. According to met department's terminology, a heat wave is considered if the maximum temperature in plains is over 45 degrees Celsius or more and 4.5-6.4 degree Celsius above normal. Severe heat wave conditions occur when the maximum temperature is more than 47 degrees Celsius or 6.4 degree Celsius or more above normal.