Patiala, March 7 -- Punjab is witnessing unusually high temperatures for early March, with maximum temperatures soaring nearly 7.5 degrees Celsius above normal, raising concerns among wheat farmers about the potential impact on their standing crop.

The sharp rise in temperatures has prompted warnings from weather officials and agricultural experts, who fear that prolonged heat during the crucial grain formation stage could adversely affect wheat yields.

"There has been a rise in the average maximum temperature over the past 24 hours. It is markedly above normal by 7.5degC in the state. There will be a steady rise in the maximum temperature by about 2-3degC during the next four days, and no large change thereafter," the IMD said in its b...