Lucknow,

April 26 (HS): A strong heatwave swept across Uttar Pradesh, with the India

Meteorological Department warning of continued hot weather till April 27 and

thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds beginning April 28. According to

the meteorological authority, heatwave conditions were observed in many sites

around the state on Sunday, with warm nights forecast in isolated areas. The severity of the heatwave is expected to

persist on Monday, although only in isolated locations. Banda, Chitrakoot,

Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Fatehpur, Pratapgarh, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Jaunpur,

Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Mau, and Ballia in eastern Uttar Pradesh, as well as

Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Aligarh, Jhansi, and surrounding

areas in the west, are expected to experience heatwave conditions during this

time.

The

MeT department warned of warm night temperatures in various districts, notably

those in western Uttar Pradesh, such as Meerut, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Bulandshahr,

Aligarh, and Agra.

Weather

is predicted to shift beginning April 28 due to a western disturbance, bringing

thunderstorms with lightning and gusty gusts of 30-40 kmph in scattered

locations around the state. The wind speed may climb to 40-50 kmph on April 29,

Thunderstorm activity is expected to persist till at

least May 2, affecting both eastern and western districts, including Gorakhpur,

Deoria, Basti, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Bareilly, and Moradabad. Meanwhile,

Banda registered a sweltering 47.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday, making it the

hottest site in the state and country that day.

Prayagraj

and Varanasi were ranked as the fourth and fifth warmest cities in India,

respectively. According to officials, the continuing heatwave has increased due

to strong westerly winds in the lower atmosphere and the presence of an

anti-cyclonic circulation over Maharashtra's interior region. The current

circumstances are predicted to remain stable for the next two days. However,

moderate respite is expected beginning April 28, when rainfall activity rises,

resulting in a 3-5 degree Celsius reduction in maximum temperatures. Heatwave

conditions are predicted to subside subsequently. The MeT department has

recommended people to take measures against severe heat and to avoid extended

sun exposure during peak hours.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi