New Delhi, March 22 (IANS) With temperatures soaring between four to ten degrees Celsius above the average for this time of the year, baffling heat wave conditions have gripped the northern parts of the country.

The national capital recorded a maximum of nearly 39 degrees Celsius, seven degrees above average while the minimum was six notches above the average at 22 degrees Celsius.

'The maximum recorded Monday fell short by just one degree to become the hottest day of March since 1945,' an official at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) here told IANS.

Delhi Sunday recorded the hottest day of March in the past six years as the maximum temperature settled around 39.2 degrees Celsius, seven notches above average.

'It's just the end of spring but the heat is already bad. I shuddered to think what May and June will be like,' said Sahil Gupta.

The situation was no better in other northern states.

Himachal Pradesh experienced very warm weather with Una at the hottest at 37 degrees Celsius. Shimla faced a maximum of 24.8 degrees Celsius, which was 11 degrees above average for this time of the year.

Temperatures soared by four to 12 degrees Celsius around the state due to the lack of rain or snow in the region, a met official said.

Parts of Uttar Pradesh were also reeling under a heat wave with temperature peaking particularly in the western districts. On Monday, the maximum temperature in Lucknow was recorded at 38.9 degrees Celsius, which was six degrees above the average.

Both Haryana and Punjab also reported soaring temperatures as the mercury climbed five to six degrees above the average temperature for this time of the year.

The common capital Chandigarh registered a maximum of 34.9 degrees and a minimum of 19 degrees Celsius Monday, which was six degrees above average.

In Haryana's Hisar town, the maximum Sunday touched a sizzling 40.9 degrees Celsius.