New Delhi:
Heat wave swept across Northern states as temperatures today soared past 45 degrees Celsius at several places.
Churu in Rajasthan was the hottest place in the region with temperature touching 47 deg C.
The national capital recorded a high of 44 degree Celsius while mercury in parts of Punjab and Haryana shot up to 46 degree Celsius.
Delhi sizzled under a scorching 44.6 degree Celsius today which was highest for the season, surpassing yesterday's 43.2 degree Celsius.
A Meteorological department official said that the heat will rise further in the days to come.
The day temperature was five notches above normal while the minimum settled at 25.9 deg C.
Humidity oscillated between 68 per cent and 19 per cent.
Punjab and Haryana also witnessed a sudden rise in temperature during the past three days as the mercury hovered around the 45 degree Celsius mark at most places.
Hisar in Haryana was the hottest place in the region as it recorded maximum at 46 degree Celsius, up by five notches above normal, local MeT office said.
Narnaul also sizzled at 45.5 degree Celsius, up by six notches above normal. Ambala experienced a hot day at 42.8 degree Celsius, five degree above normal.
In Punjab, maximum temperature at Chandigarh witnessed a further rise as it settled at 42.1 degree Celsius, three notches above normal.
Sweltering heat swept Amritsar and Ludhiana as both the places recorded identical maximum at 45.4 degree Celsius, six and seven notches above normal respectively.
Blistering heat swept Patiala too which recorded a high of 44.4 degree Celsius, up by six notches.
The MeT department said in its forecast that severe heat wave conditions may occur in some parts of Punjab and Haryana during the next four days.
Rajasthan also reeled under severe heat wave as temperature in Churu recorded 47.6 degree Celsius.
Kota, Sriganganagar, Bikaner, Jaipur and Barmer recorded 46.2, 45.7, 45, 44.6 and 44.5 degree Celsius respectively.