In a first this season, mercury crosses 40 mark in Pb, Har

For the first time this summer season, the temperatures today soared well above the 40 degrees Celsius mark across Haryana and Punjab.
Due to unseasonal rains during the month of March and April, the mercury had been hovering below normal levels at most places in the two states and their common capital Chandigarh, MeT officials said.
However, today the maximum temperatures shot several notches above normal as sizzling heat prevailed in the two states and most places recorded the season's hottest day so far.
Blistering heat prevailed in Hisar in Haryana, where the mercury soared to 42.6 deg C, three notches above normal, the MeT Department report said here.

Bhiwani also braved a hot day at 41 deg C, up two notches than normal while Karnal registered a high of 40.4 deg C, up two notches.
Narnaul's maximum settled at 40 deg C, one notch above normal.

Chandigarh, too, braved a hot day at 39.2 deg C, up two notches than normal.
In Punjab, Amritsar was the hottest place at 42.5 deg C, five notches above normal.
Sizzling heat also prevailed in Ludhiana, where the high settled at 41.2 deg C, up three notches while Patiala recorded a high of 40.4 deg C, two above normal.