Lucknow, June 3 -- The India meteorological department (IMD) has forecast a rise in the maximum temperature in Lucknow on Wednesday, with the mercury expected to reach around 40 degrees Celsius under a mainly clear sky. However, the state is bracing for contrasting weather. Rain and thundershowers are likely at isolated places across UP. The IMD's evening bulletin specifically warned that thunderstorms and lightning, accompanied by gusty winds, are very likely at isolated places over parts of West UP during the next 24 hours. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, only five stations under the Lucknow Met Centre recorded temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Fatehgarh observatory, located in Farrukhabad district, remained the hottest place in UP, with the mercury rising to 42 degrees Celsius. The other stations that breached the 40-degree mark were Basti (41degC), Lakhimpur Kheri (40.6degC), Banda (40.4degC) and Fatehpur (40.2degC). The day and night temperatures in the state capital on Tuesday were 38.8degC and 26degC, respectively. htc...