Chandigarh, April 7 -- With summer barely underway, the city is already staring at its first heatwave of the season, signalling a torrid summer.

Just a week into April, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an advisory for soaring temperatures this week, with the mercury expected to breach the 40degC mark - over two weeks earlier than it did last year.

A heatwave in this region is declared when the maximum temperature climbs above 40degC and stays 4.5 to 6.4 degrees above normal. A severe heatwave is tagged when the spike crosses 6.5 degrees.

Interestingly, Chandigarh didn't record a single heatwave in April last year, and it wasn't until April 26 that the day temperature had hit 40degC. In fact, the highest maximum temp...