Dry weather prevails in UP, Banda hottest at 47.2 degrees Celsius

Hot and dry weather persisted over Uttar Pradesh, with Banda recording the highest temperature in the state at 47.2 degrees Celsius -- five notches above normal, the India Meteorological Department said. Jhansi came a close second with a maximum temperature of 47 degrees Celsius, also five degrees above the season's normal.

Agra reeled under sweltering heat with a high of 45.5 degrees Celsius. Allahabad recorded a maximum temperature of 44.7 degrees Celsius and the mercury settled at 44.8 degrees Celsius in Etawah.

Kanpur and Hamirpur recorded a high of 43.6 degrees Celsius each, while the maximum temperature in Jalaun district's Orai was 43.5 degrees Celsius. In the state capital, Lucknow, the maximum temperature was 42 degrees Celsius -- two notches above normal.

According to IMD's forecast, the weather in the state is likely to remain dry over the next 24 hours. However, it also issued a warning for a dust storm or a thunderstorm, accompanied by gusty winds and lightning, at isolated places over western parts of the state.