India, March 5 -- The city experienced a sharp rise in temperatures on Wednesday, with Santacruz recording 38.7degC, nearly six degrees above normal, as the city was placed under a yellow alert.

The minimum temperature at Santacruz, which is the city's base weather station, stood at 22.6degC, 2.7 degrees above normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). In south Mumbai, Colaba recorded a maximum of 35.7degC, 4.5 degrees above normal, and a minimum temperature of 24degC.

Akola recorded the highest temperature in the state at 39.3degC.

IMD records showed that Wednesday's temperature was the earliest spike in March in the last 10 years. In the previous years, such sharp rise has been after March 12.

A senior IMD scien...