Chandigarh/Shimla: Northern India continued to bake under relentless heat on Saturday, with Haryana's Sirsa emerging as the hottest location at a blistering 45.2 degrees Celsius.

The prolonged spell of extreme temperatures affected large parts of Haryana, Punjab, and neighbouring Himachal Pradesh, with minimal respite expected in the coming days.Sirsa, located in the western part of Haryana, has been under the grip of intense heat for several days. The meteorological department reported other major cities in Haryana also to have sweltered: Hisar reached 43.5°C, Rohtak 44.3°C, Narnaul 42.3°C, Gurugram 41°C, Ambala 42.8°C, and Karnal 39°C.In Punjab, Bathinda led the heat charts at 43.8°C, followed by Patiala at 42.6°C and Faridkot at 42°C. Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Pathankot recorded maximum temperatures of 41.2°C, 41.8°C, and 41.5°C respectively. Gurdaspur registered 40°C. The common capital, Chandigarh, endured a high of 42.2°C.Partial respite in HPIn Himachal Pradesh, the weather was more variable, with Keylong recording the lowest minimum temperature in the region at 8.3°C.

Una, however, soared to 42.7°C, the state's highest on Saturday. Several areas received light to moderate rain in the 24 hours prior to Saturday morning, offering some relief.Chuwari in Chamba district led the rainfall tally with 31.4 mm, followed by Palampur in Kangra (29.8 mm), Berthin in Bilaspur (24.6 mm), Kandaghat in Solan (22 mm), Manali in Kullu (18 mm), and Mandi (7.2 mm). Other locations, including Nadaun (11.6 mm), Nichar (7 mm), and Bharmaur (6 mm), also reported moderate precipitation.Relief likely mid-next weekThe IMD forecast suggests no significant change in maximum and minimum temperatures over the next two days. However, a gradual dip of 3-4°C in maximum temperatures is expected across many parts of Himachal Pradesh from June 17 onwards.Light to moderate rain is predicted at isolated places in Himachal until June 16, increasing to a broader area between June 17 and 19. Widespread showers are likely on June 20, with the possibility of heavy rainfall at isolated locations on June 19 and 20. As the mercury continues to soar across the northern plains, the forecast offers a glimmer of relief — particularly for agricultural regions reliant on pre-monsoon showers.