Uttar Pradesh is witnessing contrasting weather patterns, with drizzle and thunderstorms happening in the Terai and eastern districts, while scorching heat continues to grip Banda, Jhansi, and the Bundelkhand region.
In Lucknow and other eastern districts like Bahraich, Gorakhpur, Maharajganj, Kushinagar, and Lakhimpur, a combination of drizzle, strong winds, and cloud movement has dominated the skies since Wednesday. This sudden shift has offered some respite from the intense heat, though it has also brought lightning and thunder.
On the other hand, Banda and Jhansi are the hottest for the second consecutive day, with day temperatures hitting 45 degrees Celsius, according to the Meteorological Department. These areas are currently experiencing heat wave-like conditions driven by hot westerly winds.
Relief, however, is on the horizon. "According to the Meteorological Department, light to moderate rainfall will start from Friday in all the districts of the east and west including the capital. The series of cloudy weather and light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is forecast to continue till May 27."
Senior scientist Atul Kumar Singh from the Meteorological Department stated, "On Thursday, there will be drizzle along with strong winds and thunderstorms in more than 35 districts of the eastern Terai region." He further warned that during this period, "warnings have been issued for thunderstorms and winds at a speed of 50 km per hour in many districts."
These changing conditions are expected to impact temperatures across the state. "The Meteorological Department has clarified that the maximum and minimum temperatures across the state may fall by up to four degrees Celsius for the next four days from Friday. In such a situation, people will get great relief from the scorching heat."
In Lucknow, the effects of this shift are already visible. The city’s maximum temperature dropped by 2.1 degrees on Wednesday, settling at 38.1 degrees Celsius. A further drop to 37 degrees is expected on Thursday.
A lightning alert has been issued for a broad swath of the state, covering districts including Varanasi, Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Mau, Ballia, Prayagraj, Pratapgarh, Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Chandauli, Bhadohi, Jaunpur, Deoria, Gorakhpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Basti, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Siddharth Nagar, Gonda, Balrampur, Shravasti, Bahraich, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur, Hardoi, Lucknow, Barabanki, Amethi, Sultanpur, Ayodhya, Ambedkar Nagar, Saharanpur, Bijnor, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilly, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur and surrounding areas.