The city might receive pre-monsoon showers this Thursday, according to weathermen in Patna.

As the maximum temperature touched 44.7 degrees Celsius on Monday, weather scientists believe a respite is in the offing.

"This is the last week which is witnessing such high temperatures. The monsoon is advancing at a stable pace in the western parts of the country. It is set to enter the northeastern districts of Bihar in four to five days. Once it enters, it would take four more days to advance and spread to the other districts, including Patna. The monsoon is advancing normally," said Ashish Sen, the director of Patna Met department.

He added that the soaring temperature would subside starting Thursday.

"From Thursday, people can expect some relief with a cloud cover over Patna. The intensity of cloud cover and its nature added up with the weather condition, will ascertain whether Patna will be receiving pre-monsoon showers or thunderstorms. But the temperature would fall certainly and Patna would receive some pre-monsoon showers. The temperature would fall from Wednesday itself and the dip would continue. Unless something unusual happens, residents of Patna would not be feeling the heat wave from next week," Sen said.

Patna has been witnessing a severe heat-wave condition with the maximum temperature resting at 44.4 degrees on Sunday. The temperature on Sunday was said to be the highest in the month of June in the past nine years.

"The maximum temperature on Monday rose further and it would rise on Tuesday too. There is a cyclonic condition developing on the Arabian Sea and hence the approach of the monsoon is expected to be faster in the western parts of the country. The monsoon is no longer stagnant. It is advancing. Even if it rains marginally in Patna, the temperature would drop for sure," Sen added.

Residents said they needed relief from the heat soon.

"Sunday was unbearable. Even the ceiling fans blew hot wind. My daughter felt dizzy and puked because of the heat. I had to lock my house and shift to an air-conditioned hotel for my four-year-old child. If the condition remains like this, many would fall sick. I am praying for the rain," said Siddharth Kumar, a Boring Road resident.

The south-west monsoon has met favourable conditions for further advance into Karnataka over the next two days, officials from the meteorological department said on Monday. On the other side, scattered light rain was reported across Mumbai on Sunday evening.