LUCKNOW, March 10 -- The maximum temperature in several cities of UP is inching towards the 40deg C mark in the second week of March itself. A few cities are experiencing temperatures 7 to 8 degrees above normal. The weather will remain extremely hot over the next 3 to 4 days, with a gradual increase in maximum temperatures expected. Light rain is expected from March 15, the weatherman said. The forecast for Lucknow is a sunny day with clear sky conditions. The maximum and minimum temperature will be around 35 and 22degC, respectively. The maximum temperature in Lucknow on Monday was 34.9degC which is 4.4 degrees above normal. The minimum temperature in Lucknow rose to 21.4degC which is 7.6 degrees above normal. Banda 22.6, 7.1 degrees above normal, Gorakhpur 21.3degC, Varanasi BHU 21.6degC, Ballia 21.5degC, Moradabad, Fatehgarh, Azamgarh 20 degrees each. Minimum temperatures rose in most other parts of the state on Monday without any significant change in maximum temperatures. In the absence of any active weather system in the state during this week, the weather will remain dry. With the exception of some parts of Purvanchal, temperatures are expected to remain significantly (4 to 8degC) above normal. Thereafter, due to the effect of an upcoming Western Disturbance, there is a possibility of gradual drop in the temperature from March 14 and from March 15, there is a possibility of light rain for the first time in this season in the Terai areas of the state as well as some parts of Purvanchal, which is likely to increase in subsequent days. In a few Bundelkhand districts like Banda, the day temperature rose to 38.4degC and at Jhansi 37.9degC. Both were six degrees above normal. District Hamirpur recorded 36.2degC. In Western Uttar Pradesh, day temperature in Agra rose to 37.3degC which is 8.4 degrees above normal. The forecast for Lucknow is a sunny day with clear sky conditions. The maximum and minimum temperature will be around 35 and 22degC, respectively. The maximum temperature in Lucknow on Monday was 34.9degC which is 4.4 degrees above normal. The minimum temperature in Lucknow rose to 21.4degC which is 7.6 degrees above normal. Banda 22.6, 7.1 degrees above normal, Gorakhpur 21.3degC, Varanasi BHU 21.6degC, Ballia 21.5degC, Moradabad, Fatehgarh, Azamgarh 20 degrees each....