The temperature levels started soaring on Thursday with maximum temperature levels settling above normal in various parts of the region. The maximum temperature in most places across Punjab and Haryana was close to 40 degrees Celsius. Chandigarh braved the heat at the maximum temperature of 38.6 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal and minimum of 23.6 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal. Meanwhile, blistering heat prevailed in Amritsar, ludhiana, Patiala, Jalandhar and other towns in Punjab on Thursday. While in Haryana, Hisar, Gurgaon, Bhiwani, Ambala, Narnaul, Panchkula and Rohtak were among the towns that experienced sweltering heat conditions. Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh recorded a maximum temperature of 25.6 degrees Celsius, four degrees above normal and minimum temperature of 14.7 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal. According to the MeT Department, the maximum temperature is likely to go up by few notches in next two days.