New Delhi, April 5 : A heatwave continues over the Indian peninsula, with Punjab, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh standing out with severe hot areas. The Delhi-NCR on Tuesday is likely to see partly cloudy sky through the day, when mercury will touch 39 degrees, MeT said. “Heatwave spell likely to continue over Punjab, south Haryana-Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh during next five days and over Gujarat, Vidarbha, Jharkhand during next two days,” the India Meteorological Department tweeted. According to the IMD, the maximum temperature during the day in the national capital will almost touch 40 degrees Celsius, as the minimum was recorded at 19 degrees Celsius. The Safdarjung Observatory mentioned temperatures are five notches above normal at 38.1 degrees Celsius. Heatwave spells are likely to continue in central and western parts as well, the weather office said. The unusual heat is the result of lack of rainfall over a prolonged period due to absence of active western disturbances over northern India and also any major weather troughs over southern India, the IMD added. Heat wave is possible over East Rajasthan, East Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Jammu division, private weather forecaster Skymet said. A western disturbance is gathering over north and adjoining central Pakistan that will induce cyclonic circulation over Punjab and adjoining areas, Skymet on Tuesday said. A cyclonic circulation is over south is also in the making with a trough extending from Vidarbha to interior Tamil Nadu across Karnataka. During the next 24 hours, light to moderate rain with few heavy spells are possible over Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. Light to moderate rain with one or two intense spells may occur over rest of the Northeast and also Kerala. Light rain may occur over coastal Karnataka, sub-Himalayan West Bengal and interior Tamil Nadu, Skymet said. JA ING