India, March 12 -- Delhi recorded its hottest day of the season on Wednesday as the maximum temperature rose to 36.8degC - 8.4 degrees above normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The minimum was 17.8degC, more than four degrees above normal.

The spike comes amid an unusually warm March. The maximum temperature had touched 35.7degC last Saturday, the earliest in 15 years. Experts attributed the heat to the absence of significant weather activity over the region. "There has been no cloud cover, resulting in strong sunshine. The impact of western disturbances has also been negligible, causing the mercury to soar," said Mahesh Palawat, vice-president at Skymet Weather.

The IMD has forecast some relief over the comi...