Chandigarh, April 19 -- It's only mid-April and the city has already got an inkling of what the coming months hold as the day temperatures hit 40degC on Saturday, the first time this season. This was a four-degree climb from Friday, when the maximum temperature had stood at 36.7degC. It was also 4.7 degrees above normal for this time of the year. Usually, the city records 40degC towards the end of April. Last year, the mercury had first touched this mark on April 25. The year before that, it was on April 26. However, in 2023, the gruelling conditions had set off on April 18 itself (see box). Although Saturday was the city's hottest April day so far this year, it was below last year's peak of 41.5degC recorded on April 28. India Meteorological Director (IMD), Chandigarh, director Surender Paul attributed the mercury rise over the last few days to an anti-cyclonic movement over the region. "While the anticyclonic movement is bringing dry and warm winds into the region, the North Westerly winds are also contributing to it." He further said that though a Western Disturbance (WD) is currently active over the region, it is too weak to bring rain over the city. Chances of rain will remain slim even in the coming days, the IMD director said. Paul added that people can expect the temperatures to go up further in the coming days and prepare for heatwaves. "On Saturday too, the temperature met the criteria for heatwave conditions," he said, adding that a heatwave will be declared in the city if this persists for the next one to two days. A heatwave in this region is declared when the maximum temperature goes over 40degC, and if it goes between 4.5 to 6.4 degrees above normal. If it goes over 6.5 degrees above normal, then a severe heatwave is declared. The minimum temperature dropped from 20.2degC on Friday to 19.4degC on Saturday, 1.5 degrees below normal. Over the next three days, the maximum is expected to remain between 38degC and 40degC while the minimum will hover between 20degC and 21degC....