New Delhi: It’s the start of summer and the mercury levels in the national capital have already soared to touch 33 degrees Celcius on Monday according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).


The minimum temperature on Monday was recorded 17 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season's average. However, the maximum temperature was 33 degrees Celsius, four notches above the season's average, according to IMD.


The weather office has forecast a mainly clear sky for Tuesday with the maximum and minimum temperatures likely to settle around 34 degrees Celsius and 18 degrees Celsius, respectively.


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The maximum temperatures on Monday were above normal by 3-6 degrees Celcius at many places over Gujarat State, Jammu-Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Rajasthan, Konkan & Goa, Coastal Karnataka, Kerala-Mahe, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam-Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura. The humidity levels oscillated between 94 per cent and 37 per cent.


IMD Weather Forecast 


The temperature is expected to rise till March 18, on the day of the Holi celebration, between 36 and 37 degrees Celsius. There will be some wind conditions offering some respite on March 18 and 19. The rise in temperature will continue thereafter, an IMD official told PTI.


In 2021, the maximum temperature touched 35 degrees Celsius by March 12.


Heatwave Predictions In Different Parts Of India


A rise in maximum temperatures by 2-3 degrees Celcius is very likely over most parts of Northwest, Central and northeast India during the next three days and no significant change thereafter, IMD said in its weather bulletin.


The gradual rise in maximum temperatures by 2-4 degrees Celcius is very likely over most parts of the eastern region during the next four-five days. However, no significant change in maximum temperatures is likely over Gujarat & Maharashtra during the next three days and fall by 2-3 degrees Celcius thereafter.


The northern region is likely to face severe heatwave conditions including parts of Saurashtra-Kutch and in isolated pockets over Konkan on Tuesday and Wednesday.


No significant change in maximum temperatures over the rest parts of the country.