Heavy pre-monsoon activity disrupted normal life across several states on Friday, with hailstorms in Rajasthan, 100 kmph winds in Uttar Pradesh, and fresh rain alerts issued in more than 15 states. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also revised its monsoon rainfall forecast downward, raising concerns over a weaker rainy season this year.

Storms Replace Heat

Instead of the usual intense ‘Nautapa’ heatwave conditions, large parts of north and central India witnessed thunderstorms, rain and gusty winds since Thursday night. In Uttar Pradesh, strong winds and rain swept through Lucknow, Prayagraj, Jhansi and Chandauli early Friday morning.

Initial reports indicate wind speeds touched nearly 100 kmph in some districts. In Hamirpur, an under-construction bridge reportedly collapsed during the storm, killing six people. Local authorities said rescue teams were deployed soon after the incident.

The IMD has issued storm alerts for all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh. Saharanpur also reported hailstorm activity, while in Jhansi, a heavy advertising structure was uprooted due to strong winds.

Hail During Nautapa

Rajasthan, which has been battling severe heat over the past week, saw sudden weather changes in several districts. Sri Ganganagar received hail late Thursday evening despite recording a maximum temperature of 47.1 degrees Celsius.

The weather department has issued alerts for rain and thunderstorms in at least 12 districts. Jaipur recorded its hottest day of the season on Thursday, with temperatures crossing 45 degrees Celsius, though officials expect some relief over the weekend.

In Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh, residents reported unusually large hailstones, some described as egg-sized. Videos from the area showed damaged plastic furniture and slippery roads after the storm.

IMD Cuts Rainfall Forecast

The IMD on Friday said India may receive below-normal rainfall during the 2026 monsoon season. According to officials, the estimated seasonal rainfall has now been reduced to around 78 cm, down from the earlier forecast of 80 cm issued last month.

The country’s long-period average rainfall stands at 87 cm based on data from 1971 to 2020. IMD Deputy Director General Dr M. Mohapatra said the rainfall this year could remain around 90% of the Long Period Average (LPA), slightly lower than previous estimates.

If the projection holds, this would be among the weakest monsoon performances since 2018.

Monsoon Arrival Delayed

The southwest monsoon, meanwhile, remains stalled near the Kerala coast. The IMD had earlier forecast an early onset around May 26, nearly five days ahead of schedule, but the system has shown little movement over the past several days.

Private weather agency Skymet now expects the monsoon to reach Kerala between June 3 and June 4. According to weather experts, atmospheric conditions over the Arabian Sea are currently slowing further advancement.

The monsoon had entered the Andaman region around May 16, initially indicating a faster progression.

Damage Across States

Odisha reported three deaths linked to lightning strikes and storm-related incidents over the last 24 hours. Officials said more than 250 homes were damaged in districts including Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Rourkela and Angul. Trees and electric poles were uprooted in several areas.

In Chhattisgarh, strong winds uprooted trees in Raigarh and Sukma, while parts of Madhya Pradesh, including Damoh, witnessed rain and hail. Bengaluru also saw traffic disruptions after trees collapsed during an evening storm on Thursday.

Delhi-NCR and nearby Noida experienced traffic snarls after sudden rainfall during peak hours.

Heatwave Still Persists

Despite widespread rain activity, heatwave conditions continue in pockets of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and coastal states. The IMD has issued orange alerts for severe heat in districts such as Morena, Sheopur, Tikamgarh and Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh.

Meteorologists said temperatures could gradually dip over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh over the next two days as thunderstorm activity intensifies.

For now, the pre-monsoon rain alert remains active across much of north, central and eastern India, with officials advising people to remain cautious during thunderstorms and strong wind activity.