Chandigarh, March 17 -- The cool respite from the rain on Holi did not last long, as the maximum temperature climbed by four notches on Sunday with the return of clear weather. The rain, associated with a Western Disturbance, is likely to be the last for a while as summer settles in.

Now, as the Western Disturbance subsides and no other systems are expected soon, the mercury will rise steadily, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The maximum temperature had dropped to 24degC on Saturday following 5.4 mm of rain, offering residents a final touch of winter. This was the lowest since 22.3degC on March 5. But with the clear skies returning, the temperature rose to 28.5degC on Sunday, 1.9 degrees above normal.

On Monday, ...