Chandigarh, May 15 -- With a cooler than normal May till now, its second half is on the path to be much hotter, as the maximum temperature crossed 40degC for the first time in the month on Wednesday.

The mercury can further soar up to 44degC by the end of this week. But relief is around the corner as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a chance of light rain next week.

According to IMD, the maximum temperature rose from 39.9degC on Tuesday to 40.5degC on Wednesday, three degrees above normal.

While cool winds, coupled with cloud cover and rain, kept the temperature in check through the past two weeks, the maximum temperature had breached the 40degC mark in April, going up to 41.5degC on April 27.

IMD Chandigarh dire...