JAIPUR: Amid sustained warm and dry conditions in western Rajasthan, Jaisalmer reported its hottest September day on record with the mercury touching a sweltering 43.5 Celsius on Saturday.

The previous highest temperature during the month in records going back to 1948 was 43.3 C, logged on September 10, 1949."The maximum temperature recorded in Jaisalmer on Saturday was almost 6.9 higher than the normal," Jaipur met office director Radhey Shyam Sharma told TOI.Sharma said an anti-cyclonic circulation over western Rajasthan was causing hot weather conditions in the region.

"When the monsoon departs, the weather becomes dry in the western Rajasthan, which gives rise to an anti-cyclonic circulation and contributes to a rise in temperatures," Sharma added.An anti-cyclonic circulation is a clockwise-moving atmospheric current which pushes air downwards towards the land surface, thereby causing a rise in temperatures.

The monsoon hasn't withdrawn from the region though it has been inactive over western Rajasthan for several weeks now.

Jaisalmer was followed by Barmer where a maximum temperature of 40.3 C was recorded, Bikaner 40.0, Jodhpur 39.5 and Sriganganagar 38.5.Apart from western Rajasthan, the weather in the other parts of the state was pleasant due to the scattered and mild showers at Jaipur, Ajmer, Bharatpur and Udaipur divisions of the state.

Sikarai (Dausa) received a rainfall of 50mm, the highest in the state, followed by Vair (Bharatpur) where rainfall of 40mm was recorded.

Rainfall varying from 30mm to 10mm was also recorded at various places in the state.

People in Jaipur woke up to a pleasant morning when a minimum temperature of 26.0 C was recorded.

In its forecast, the Met office said that partially cloudy conditions will prevail across the state in the next 24 hours except western Rajasthan.

A few places in Jaipur, Ajmer, Bharatpur, Kota divisions are likely to witness mild showers on Sunday.