The monsoon on Wednesday advanced into northern parts of Punjab and arrived in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh, bringing rains and causing temperatures to drop by a few notches, a Meteorological Department official said here.

Rains also lashed parts of neighbouring Haryana. Normally, monsoon arrives in Punjab and Haryana in the first week of July.

"The monsoon has advanced into northern parts of Punjab, and Chandigarh. Conditions are favourable for its further advancement into most parts of Punjab and Haryana on Thursday," a Meteorological Department official said here.

In Punjab, Patiala and Amritsar recorded maximum temperatures of 34.7 degrees Celsius and 35.2 degrees Celsius, respectively, both three notches below normal.

Heavy rains also lashed Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, in the afternoon. The maximum temperature in the city settled at 33.3 degrees Celsius, four notches below normal.

In Haryana, Narnaul recorded a high of 31.4 degrees Celsius, 10 notches below normal, after the rains. In Ambala, the mercury settled at 33.5 degrees Celsius, four notches below normal, after light rains.

Karnal recorded a maximum temperature of 33.5 degrees Celsius, four notches below normal. Hisar''s recorded a high of 38.4 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal.

During the next two days, light to moderate rain or thunder showers are likely in many parts of Punjab and Haryana, including Chandigarh, according to the weather department. It has forecast heavy showers at isolated parts in north Haryana and Punjab during this period.

Meanwhile, Most parts of Himachal Pradesh received rainfall on Wednesday as the monsoon made its foray into the state, the meteorological department said. Heavy rainfall occurred at isolated places in Kangra and Mandi districts. Palampur in Kangra district received the highest 110 mm rain in the last 24 hours, he added.

Jogindernagar received 96 mm rain, followed by Baijnath 93 mm, Dharamshala 92 mm, Gaggal 87 mm, Saharan and Kumarsen 33 mm each, Nagrota Suriyan 31 mm, Kothi 28 mm, Dalhousie 25 mm, Saloni 21 mm, Bharari and Chhatrari 17 mm each, Mandi 16 mm and Baldwara 14 mm. Shimla received 13 mm rain, Nadaun 12 mm, Chamba and Dehra Gopipur 11 mm each, Kufri, Sangrah and Keylong 10 mm each.

The MeT centre has predicted rains in the state till June 30. It issued a yellow warning of heavy rainfall, thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds at isolated places in middle hills for Thursday.