Lucknow: Over a dozen districts in the central and Terai region of Uttar Pradesh were swept by a thunderstorm accompanied by lightning, light to moderate rain, and strong winds, uprooting trees in the early hours of Thursday morning.According to the weatherman, more rounds of thunderstorms and light to moderate rain are predicted until Monday due to a strong cyclonic circulation over Punjab. The state capital, Jhansi, Hardoi, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Shravasti, Kushinagar, Bahraich, Varanasi, and several others were lashed by gusty winds and rains. The highest rainfall of 73.7 mm was recorded in Gorakhpur, followed by Ayodhya (57.2 mm), Fursatganj in Amethi (56.6 mm), Haraiya in Basti (54.2 mm), and others.This sudden change in weather conditions led to a fall in maximum temperatures, which were earlier recorded above 40 degrees Celsius during the daytime. Barabanki was the coolest during the daytime, recording 31.6 degrees Celsius, while Lucknow recorded its lowest maximum temperature during the day in May, with mercury dropping to 33.9 degrees Celsius."A strong cyclonic circulation over Punjab and interaction of easterlies and westerlies from Punjab to the Bay of Bengal formed a trough line that led to thunderstorms and rain in the central part and the Terai belt of Uttar Pradesh," said senior scientist Mohammad Danish of the state meteorological department.

He said more rounds of thunderstorms are expected for the next five days, causing light to moderate rain and gusty winds sweeping the state. Rain/thundershower is very likely at isolated places over the state. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning/gusty winds (speed 40-50 km/h) are very likely at isolated places over the state.At 33.9 degree Celsius, Lucknow experiences coolest day of MayLucknow was lashed with thunderstorms and rain on Thursday, leading to a drop in both day and night temperatures. The city experienced the coolest day of May this year and also the coolest May in the last two years, with maximum and minimum temperatures recorded at 33.9 and 22 degrees Celsius. On Friday, the maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 36 and 25 degrees Celsius, respectively. There is a possibility of thunderstorms and rain till Sunday.