New Delhi (PTI): Monsoon became more active and advanced further in the northern region bringing good rains in sun-parched areas with Ambala in Haryana recording the highest rainfall of 40 mm.

Widespread rains lashed many parts of Rajasthan, which was reeling under severe heat conditions until the last week.

Jaipur recorded 15.2 mm rainfall. Most parts of the desert state received light to moderate rains.

Showers eluded Barmer and Jaisalmer where mercury scraped 40 degree Celsius, followed by Ajmer and Jodhpur at 39 degrees.

With the spread of monsoon, mercury further dipped in Uttar Pradesh. A rainfall of 36.4 mm was recorded in Ghazipur, while it was 12.2 mm in Jhansi.

In capital Lucknow, maximum temperature settled at 38.1 degrees. Rain and thundershowers are likely at few places in all the divisions of the state in the next 24 hours, weathermen has said.

Maximum temperatures across Punjab and Haryana stayed few notches below normal. Chandigarh had a partially cloudy sky and mercury plunged by four degrees to settle at 31.6 degrees. Humidity levels touched 87 per cent.