Patna: After experiencing a pleasant week, residents in Patna and most of the other parts of the state should gear up for sultry weather conditions in which the temperature is likely to maintain a rising trend.

Unlike the past week when day temperature remained below the normal mark, the coming week is likely to be harsher as the day temperature would either be normal or above it. The normal maximum temperature for Patna for the week would be 37.5°C.

Residents in Patna could feel the impact of rising temperature on Sunday itself when the mercury touched the 40 degrees Celsius mark.

"I could feel the heat as I was out in a city park to spend time with my family. We had ice-cream and lots of water to beat the heat," said Prakash Kumar, a resident of Boring Road.

Residents will have to brave such conditions as weathermen feel the mercury would maintain a rising trend. "The temperature is likely to maintain a rising trend in the coming week," Patna Met office scientist Anand Shankar said on Sunday.

Another official in the Met office said the reason behind the rising temperature was absence of any system over Bihar. "There is no significant weather system over Bihar which could bring rain or thunderstorm in the coming two-three days," said the official.

He, however, said chances of thunderstorm could be there from Wednesday. A thunderstorm brings down the temperature but once the weather becomes stable the mercury level again starts rising.

Even the changing pattern of wind indicated a possible dry spell. "While easterly and north-easterly winds are blowing in north Bihar, the westerly has taken over southwest Bihar. In the coming few days, the westerly would be blowing across the state," said an official in the Met office.

When easterly remains a dominant wind in an area, it brings moisture with it and a favourable condition helps in development of thunderstorm accompanied by rain.