New Delhi/IBNS: The national capital on Monday recorded its highest temperature of the season, with the mercury touching 40.2 degrees Celsius at Safdarjung, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a statement.

The temperature rise is in sync with the weather department's heat wave forecast for this week in the capital.

A 'heatwave' is declared when the maximum temperature is over 40 degrees Celsius and at least 4.5 notches above normal.

"Delhi can see heatwave conditions in the next three days. A western disturbance will influence the Himalayan region from tomorrow night, and its effects will be seen in the Himalayas... Temperatures in the Himalayas will start to fall after tomorrow night and after three days in Punjab and Haryana...," IMD Scientist Dr Naresh Kumar told news agency ANI.

According to the IMD, the weather in Delhi and NCR has shown little change in the past 24 hours, with no significant variations in minimum temperatures and a slight rise in maximum temperatures.

The maximum temperature recorded in most areas of Delhi has been between 38 and 39 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature ranged between 19 to 23 degrees Celsius.

Even as the minimum temperatures are near normal, the maximum temperatures have been above normal by 2-4 degrees Celsius in several parts of the region, the weather office said.