Summer slowly sinks in, nights get hotter

LUCKNOW: February has been unusually hot this year, especially at night. In the past nine days, temperatures were around the levels normally recorded towards March-end or April first week. On Friday, the minimum temperature soared to 19 degrees Celsius, eight degrees above normal, while the maximum temperature was 30.5 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal.

In fact, minimum temperatures have been 3-4 degrees above normal since February 14.Maximum temperatures have been 2-3 degrees above normal since February 20, forcing people to switch on fans and airconditioners.
The mean maximum and minimum temperatures of March are 32 and 15 degrees Celsius, respectively, while for April they are 38 and 20 degrees Celsius, respectively. State Met director J P Gupta said that mercury levels may drop by a couple of degrees on Saturday, with maximum and minimum temperatures expected to be around 27 and 15 degrees Celsius, respectively. But, by and large, similar weather conditions will prevail till Monday. However, rains and thundershowers are expected on Tuesday following which temperatures are expected to fall back to normal levels, he added.
The hot weather conditions are because of series of western disturbances (WDs) which hit the Himalayas in quick succession in the past two weeks, causing snowfall in the hills and rains in some parts of plains.
Another western disturbance is expected to hit the northern hill states on February 24. It is expected to cause rains or thundershowers in the plains, including UP and Lucknow, on February 26.