Mussoorie, June 23 -- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds across Uttarakhand from June 23 to June 25, even as localised weather systems triggered rainfall across several hill districts of the state. The alerts covered Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar, Dehradun, Tehri, Nainital and Pithoragarh districts,and warned of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph. The weather agency said that Dehradun and Lohaghat recorded 47 millimetres of rainfall on Monday afternoon, which was the highest in the state. Champawat recorded 19.5 millimetres of rain, while Jageshwar, Dwarahat and Sitlakhet recorded light showers. Isolated parts of the state recorded light to moderate rainfall along with thunder and strong winds up to 8.30 am. Strong winds were also reported from several locations. Maldevta recorded the highest wind speed at 56 kmph, followed by Hatibarkala at 48 kmph. Chamoli and Jolly Grant registered wind speeds of 39 kmph and 33 kmph, respectively. IMD Dehradun officials said rainfall activity was being driven by localised convective systems rather than the South-west Monsoon, which is yet to make its onset over Uttarakhand. Officials explained that intense daytime heating over mountainous terrain caused warm air to rise rapidly, leading to the formation of towering cumulonimbus clouds and resulting in sudden afternoon and evening showers. They added that the absence of any active western disturbance was expected to aid the northward advance of monsoon winds towards the Himalayan foothills. Despite the recent showers, the state recorded an average rainfall of only 3 mm against the normal benchmark of 6.6 mm during the 24-hour period ending Monday morning, reflecting a rainfall deficit of 54%, said officials. IMD Dehradun has forecast light to moderate rain and thunderstorms at a few places in the hill districts over the next few days, while isolated pockets in the remaining districts may receive light rainfall. Haridwar and US Nagar are likely to witness predominantly dry weather from June 24 to June 28....