Mercury may reach 39 degrees by month-end: Officials

New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) With the national capital already sizzling due to a significant rise in the mercury, making March the hottest in the last six years, the Met department says the temperature could rise to 39 degrees Celsius by the end of month.

On Saturday, the maximum temperature in Delhi was 35 degree Celsius, four notches above the season's average. This is expected to rise by four degrees by the end of March.

"The maximum temperature expected to rise to 36 degrees on Monday, 37 degrees on Tuesday and 38-39 degree Celsius by the end of the month, even as western disturbance is expected by Tuesday, 28 March," an official of the India Meteorological Department told IANS.

According to IMD officials, western disturbance -- a storm system originating in the Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea which causes rain and snowfall in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent and mallows down weather -- would keep the temperature well around 38 or 39 degrees, which may have further increased otherwise.

Director of private weather forecasting agency Skymet Mahesh Palawat said that western disturbances forms rain in the hill and cyclonic circulation over Rajasthan, however this time, according to the current weather pattern it will not rain.

"This means that the days would remain hot by the March end. But it is unlikely to touch 40 degrees," Palawat said.

Meanwhile, Delhi already faced 38 degrees on Thursday, March 23, which was hottest since 2011.

According to the IMD archives, highest maximum temperature in 2016, 2015 and 2012 was 37 degrees. In 2014 it was 34 degrees, 2013 it as 35 degrees and in 2011 it was 36 degree Celsius.