India, March 8 -- The transition in Delhi from freezing winters to hot summers has been rather abrupt this year as the national capital on Saturday recorded a maximum temperature of 35.7 degrees Celsius, which is the highest reading logged for the first week of March in the last 50 years.

Safdarjung, Delhi's primary weather station, recorded a maximum temperature of 35.7 degrees Celsius on Saturday, which is 7.3 degrees above normal, and a minimum of 17.4 degrees Celsius, 3.4 notches above normal.

With the mercury touching 35.7 degrees Celsius on Saturday, it is now the hottest day in the first week of March during the 50-year period, news agency PTI quoted an official of the Indian Met Department as saying.

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