Patna: The mercury is ready to surge in Patna and various parts of the state towards the end of this month and April.

On Sunday, Patna recorded a maximum temperature of 36 degrees Celsius, a 2°C departure from normal.

The next seven days' forecast from the India Meteorological Department also shows that the temperature would hover around 36-37°C till April 1.

A weather summary report released on Monday said Bihar recorded above-normal temperatures with a maximum temperature departure of 1.9°C 2°C.

Dry weather, the weathermen said, would prevail in this week.

"Maximum temperatures will rise in April also. But 'heat wave conditions' are unlikely to be experienced before May when the temperature goes beyond 40°C," said Pradhan Parthasarthi, IMD-Patna secretary. "Areas around the Gangetic plains, south of Ganga and north Bihar will remain among the most-affected like every year.

"As winter crops are already harvested, the rising temperatures would not have any significant impact on agriculture.

Besides Patna, temperature in Gaya will rise after Monday and hover around 37-38°C. The district had recorded 36.8°C on Sunday with a departure of 2°C. Bhagalpur in east Bihar recorded a maximum temperature of 37.8°C with a departure of 3 degrees Celsius.

The mercury is expected to remain at 37-38°C till April 1.

Other districts such as Muzaffarpur, Nalanda, Aurangabad and Madhubani are also likely to experience rise in maximum temperatures over the next seven days.

However, a few days ago the IMD had predicted that Rajasthan, north Madhya Pradesh and south Uttar Pradesh are likely to experience heat wave conditions till 4th of April.

"As of now and in the next month, there is no public health concern. However 'hot day conditions' are likely to come in May. Moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal makes the summer days sultry and scorching," said IMD-Patna secretary Parthasarthi.