Lucknow, June 20 -- Rising temperatures and the absence of significant weather activity intensified heatwave conditions across eastern Uttar Pradesh on Friday, with Banda emerging as the hottest city in the country at 44.2degC, 4.6 degrees above normal. Heatwave conditions also prevailed in Prayagraj (43.6degC), Varanasi (43degC), Ghazipur (42degC), Bahraich (42degC) and Lakhimpur Kheri (41degC). The IMD said heatwave conditions are likely to persist over eastern UP for the next five days. Weather conditions also remain unfavourable for the advancement of the southwest monsoon into the state, with its progress stalled over Bihar and Jharkhand. In Lucknow, the maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded at 41.3degC and 29.8degC, respectively. The city is expected to witness a clear sky on Saturday, with temperatures likely to hover around 42degC and 30degC. While isolated rain or thundershowers are likely in parts of western UP, weather is expected to remain largely dry over eastern Uttar Pradesh....