Chennaites, who were experiencing a brief respite in the first week of May, will have to face very hot days in the coming days. Mercury level in the city is expected to hit the 40ļæ½ mark by the end of this week. On Monday, the maximum temperature in the city was 38.6ļæ½C while the suburbs recorded 39.3ļæ½C. This was two degrees above normal level for this period and the highest compared to last week. S Bagulayan Thampi, deputy director general, Indian Meteorological Department, Chennai said, ļæ½Temperatures are steadily climbing and could hit 40ļæ½C this week. We are not expecting any rainfall in the city.ļæ½ In the last two years, temperature touched about 43ļæ½C in the last week of May.