Haye garmi: Mercury breaches 40-degree mark in Delhi, expected to touch 44 degree Celsius next week

The Safdarjung Observatory -- Delhi's base station -- recorded a maximum temperature of 39.5 degrees Celsius on Saturday, two notches above normal for this time of the year.

The weather stations at Ridge, Jafarpur, Mungeshpur, Najafgarh, Pitampura, and Sports Complex recorded a maximum temperature of 41.4 degrees Celsius, 40.1 degrees Celsius, 41.1 degrees Celsius, 41.2 degrees Celsius, 41.4 degrees Celsius and 41.8 degrees Celsius, respectively.  

The IMD has predicted that the maximum temperature may increase by three to five degrees Celsius in most parts of northwest India during the next few days.

The mercury is likely to touch the 44-degree mark in Delhi by Thursday.

The national capital has recorded eight heatwave days in April this year, the maximum since 11 such days witnessed in the month in 2010.  

Delhi had recorded a maximum temperature of 43.2 degrees Celsius on April 21, 2017. The all-time high maximum temperature for the month was 45.6 degrees Celsius on April 29, 1941.