Pre-monsoon activity remained strong across large parts of north and central India on Tuesday, bringing widespread rainfall, dust storms and lightning incidents even as heatwave conditions continued in several states. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated that the southwest monsoon is likely to advance into Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat within the next two to three days.

Rainfall was reported from several states, including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi. In Bihar, lightning strikes during adverse weather claimed three lives, highlighting the risks associated with the changing weather pattern.

Madhya Pradesh witnessed pre-monsoon showers in 17 districts, offering temporary relief from soaring temperatures. Rajasthan, meanwhile, has recorded significantly above-normal rainfall this season. Data available between June 1 and June 21 shows that the state received 39.3 mm of rainfall against the normal average of 28 mm, marking an excess of 41%.

The weather remained dramatic in the national capital region as a dust storm swept across Delhi-NCR during the afternoon. Reduced visibility and darkened skies were reported in several areas. Similar conditions were observed in parts of Uttar Pradesh, where strong winds reaching up to 60 kmph affected at least six cities. Despite these developments, eastern Uttar Pradesh continued to experience intense heat and uncomfortable humidity.

According to the IMD, the southwest monsoon has already advanced into parts of Telangana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar. The weather agency expects further progress over the coming days, potentially bringing widespread rainfall to central and northern regions currently experiencing prolonged heat.

Mumbai also welcomed the monsoon on Tuesday, although the seasonal rains arrived 13 days later than the city's normal onset date of June 10. Soon after its arrival, several parts of the financial capital recorded heavy rainfall, leading to waterlogging in some localities and disrupting daily movement.

Even as monsoon conditions strengthened, heatwave conditions persisted across several states. Temperatures crossed the 40-degree Celsius mark in many cities of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Bihar and Gujarat on Wednesday.

Banda in Uttar Pradesh emerged as the hottest location in the country with a maximum temperature of 43.3°C. Other notable readings included 41.2°C in Daltonganj, 40.8°C in Bodhgaya and several cities of Rajasthan, including Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Barmer. Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh recorded 40.4°C, while Rajkot in Gujarat touched 40.5°C.

Weather-related incidents were also reported from Chhattisgarh, where a tree in Kanker reportedly continued burning for a prolonged period after being struck by lightning, underlining the intensity of recent thunderstorms.

The IMD has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh for June 25. Heavy rain is also expected in Sikkim, Konkan-Goa, Telangana and coastal Karnataka. Similar alerts have been issued for Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Odisha.

For June 26, forecasts indicate continued heavy rainfall in parts of Assam, Meghalaya, West Bengal and Sikkim, while heatwave conditions are likely to persist in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Vidarbha for another day. Authorities have advised residents in affected regions to remain alert to rapidly changing weather conditions.