LUCKNOW, Sept. 22 -- The southwest monsoon is set to withdraw from western Uttar Pradesh within the next 24 hours, with dry weather conditions and rising temperatures expected across the state, the India meteorological department (IMD) said on Sunday. With no rain expected, day temperatures are rising across the state. On Sunday, Orai recorded the highest temperature in the state at 36.6degC, which is 5.4degC above normal. Kanpur (IAF) followed closely at 36.4degC. In Lucknow, the maximum temperature rose to 35.1degC, 1.6degC above normal, while the minimum stood at 26.5degC. Relative humidity in the city was recorded at 95 percent. The four-month monsoon season in the state begins on June 1 and ends on September 30. This year, the monsoon entered Uttar Pradesh on time on June 18 through districts bordering Madhya Pradesh. Monsoon withdrawal began from western Rajasthan on September 14, three days earlier than usual. With no active weather system in the state and the prevalence of dry westerly and northwesterly winds in the lower troposphere, the weather across Uttar Pradesh is expected to remain largely dry for the next three to four days, apart from isolated drizzles at one or two locations in Purvanchal within the next 12 hours. Due to activity in the Bay of Bengal, scattered rain and drizzles are expected to return to Purvanchal from September 25. The system is likely to reach central and Bundelkhand regions by September 26, said senior scientist Mohd Danish from the Lucknow Met office. This year, Uttar Pradesh has received a fairly adequate amount of rainfall, resulting in an overall rain deficit of just 3 percent. Since June 1, the state has recorded 695.6 mm of rainfall against the normal of 719.3 mm. Eastern UP reported a sharper deficit of 14 percent, with 659.2 mm rainfall compared to a normal of 765 mm. Western Uttar Pradesh, however, received a 14 percent surplus, recording 747.8 mm against the normal 655.2 mm. In Lucknow, clear skies and bright sunshine have caused a steady rise in both maximum and minimum temperatures. On Sunday, the city recorded a day temperature of 35.1degC and a night temperature of 26.5degC, both above normal. The weather forecast for Lucknow indicates mainly clear skies, with mist likely in the morning hours. Day and night temperatures are expected to hover around 36degC and 27degC, respectively. The state forecast also suggests dry weather across UP in the coming days....