LUCKNOW, May 26 -- Thunderstorms are set to strike several parts of the state, providing relief, but before that Uttar Pradesh must endure three more days of intense heat, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday. And if that wasn't good news enough, hailstorms are set to visit portions of the state soon! As the state continued to reel under scorching temperatures, the nine-day period known as Nautapa, considered the hottest phase of summer, began on Monday. The IMD has warned of heatwave conditions across many districts till May 28. However, thunderstorms expected from May 29 are likely to bring some respite by the weekend. Nautapa refers to the period when the Sun is believed to be closest to the Earth, resulting in extreme heat and a sharp rise in temperatures across north and central India. Lucknow recorded a maximum temperature of 42.3degC, while the minimum temperature was 28.6degC. The forecast for Tuesday predicts clear sky along with strong dust-raising winds during the day. Banda recorded the highest temperature in India and shared the spot with Brahmpuri in Maharashtra, on Monday, baking at 47.6degC. Jhansi registered 46degC, while Orai touched 45.8degC. Agra recorded 45.5degC and Prayagraj 45.4degC, and Varanasi (BHU) and Ghazipur also remained under severe heat stress, with temperatures settling at 44.9degC and 44.5degC, respectively. A red warning for severe heatwave conditions has been issued for districts including Prayagraj, Banda, Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Fatehpur, Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Varanasi and Jhansi. Several western UP districts are also likely to remain under heatwave conditions till May 28. Hailstorm activity has also been predicted in Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Meerut, Bareilly and Prayagraj divisions. Mohd Danish, senior scientist at Lucknow Meteorological Department, said people are likely to start getting relief after the next two to three days. "Probably from May 28 onwards, weather conditions may change and people may get relief from the heatwave conditions," he said....