Chandigarh, May 21 -- The city recorded its first heatwave day of the month on Wednesday as the maximum temperature surged to 44.4degC, the highest of the season, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The day's high was 5.5 degrees above normal, meeting the IMD's criteria for a heatwave, which is declared when the maximum temperature is 4.5degC to 6.4degC above normal and exceeds 40degC.

Wednesday's temperature was also the second-highest May temperature recorded since 2012 at the Sector 39 IMD observatory. The highest temperature for the month remains 46degC, recorded on May 30, 2024.

The MeT has issued an orange alert for heatwave to severe heatwave conditions in the city over the next few days. A severe heatwave is...