Scorching weather conditions persisted in several parts of north India today with mercury touching 40-degrees Celsius mark at many places in the region.
Delhi experienced the hottest day of August in the last 12 years as temperature soared significantly above the season's average today.
The maximum temperature was recorded at 39.1 degrees Celsius, five notches above normal, at Safdarjung observatory, considered the official reading for the city, while at Palam, mercury hit 40.7 degrees Celsius.
This was the hottest day in Delhi in August since 2002. Earlier, the city's hottest day of the month was recorded on August 20 when mercury touched 38.4 degrees Celsius.
According to the MeT officials, there would be no relief from the scorching heat for the next 2-3 days and temperature may rise further in the absence of rains.
The minimum temperature was recorded at 27.5 degrees Celsius, while humidity eased to between 40 and 74 per cent.
Mercury soared to around 40 degrees Celsius levels in Punjab and Haryana today as the region reeled under hot weather conditions during the day.
Hisar in Haryana registered a maximum temperature of 40.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Bhiwani, Narnaul, Ambala, and Karnal which had highs of 39.6, 39.5, 36.9, and 36 degrees Celsius respectively, rising by up to five nothces above normal, Met report said.
Chandigarh recorded a high of 37 degrees Celsius, up by four degrees, the Met department said.
In Punjab, mercury at Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala rose to 37.9, 36.9 and 37.8 degrees Celsius respectively.
In Rajasthan, southwest monsoon remained active for the second day today in northeastern parts of the state with Vallabhnagar recording the most rainfall of 7 cm.
According to MeT office, in northwest region covering Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, however, the mercury rose significantly with Churu sizzling at 41.8 degrees Celsius.
Kota recorded a maximum rainfall of 6 cm followed by Jhadol 5 cm, Devel 4 cm, Badi Sadri, Kushalgarh 3 cm each, Dug, Dungla, Pratapgarh, Lohariya, Sajjangarh, Badgaon, Sallpot, Kherwara, Girva, Sarara 2 cm each, Desuri, Ahore, and Kherwara, Sirohi, Mount Abu, Pindwara, Begu, Arnod 1 cm each.
While Sriganganagar recorded a maximum temperature of 41.2 degrees Celsius followed by Bikaner 41.1, Pilani 40.1, and Jaipur 39.1 degrees Celsius.
