Lucknow: Monsoon-like feel as rain douses blazing June sun

LUCKNOW: June is the month of peak summer when the blazing sun makes the weather unbearable. But on Friday, the city witnessed monsoon-like-weather, with day-time temperatures plunging 15 degrees below normal — the level usually experienced in November.
However, the weatherman has predicted a partly cloudy sky on Saturday, with little possibility of rains on the weekend. Mercury is expected to rise by a few degrees, but conditions will remain pleasant.
The change in weather was due to a low pressure area — remnant of the severe cyclonic ‘Nisarga’ — formed over Bihar and adjoining southeast Uttar Pradesh and associated cyclonic circulation. The system was aided by a western disturbance over the Himalayan region, said weather department officials.
As a result, the city witnessed cloudy sky and a few spell of light rains on Thursday. It again started drizzling in the wee hours of Friday and continued intermittently till evening. Total rainfall in 24 hours from 5.30pm on Thursday was 6mm.
Maximum temperatures in June are usually above 40 degrees Celsius maximum temperatures till the monsoon arrives in the latter part of the month, but on Friday maximum temperature was 24.6 degrees Celsius, 15 notches below normal. The minimum temperature was 22.5 degrees Celsius, 3.8 units below normal. Relative humidity was high, between 88%-95%, but cool winds and low mercury kept the weather pleasant.
State Met director JP Gupta said the possibility of rains in Lucknow is less on Saturday. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to be around 32 and 22 degrees, Celsius respectively. Thunderstorms may occur at isolated places in the state.