Dharamshala, May 31 -- Thunderstorms, hail was witnessed in parts of Himachal Pradesh as rain lashed most parts of the state on Friday, India Meteorological Department's (IMD) Shimla office said. Isolated spells of heavy rain were also witnessed during the last 24 hours, the MeT department officials said, adding that more showers are expected in parts of the hill-state in the coming few days. While thunderstorms were reported in Shimla, Sundernagar, Kangra, Palampur, Jubberhatti, Jot, Murari Devi and Bhuntar, hailstorms were observed in Shimla. Gusty winds swept through Bilaspur (60 kmph), Neri (61 kmph), Seobagh (52 kmph), Bajaura (50 kmph) and Tabo (50 kmph). The highest rainfall of 7 cm was recorded in Rajgarh, followed by Jubberhatti (5 cm), Kasauli (4 cm), Dharampur (3 cm), Shimla (3 cm) and 2 cm rainfall each in Sundernagar, Nadaun, Dehra Gopipur and Sujanpur Tira. The weather office in Shimla has also sounded an orange alert of heavy rain and thunderstorms accompanied with lightning and gusty wind (50-60 kmph) for May 31 (Saturday) at isolated places in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu and Mandi districts. An orange alert has been issued for Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur districts as well. A yellow alert has been issued for the rest of the districts in the state on June 1. According to IMD, light to moderate rain is likely at many places over the state till June 3. A few places in the state will continue to receive rainfall on June 4 and 5. After weeks, the day temperatures in Kashmir valley dropped below normal on Friday following overnight rains and gusty winds. The maximum temperatures which were running above normal for the past many weeks, particularly since May 18, when the valley witnessed heatwave-like conditions, fell 3 to 6 degrees below normal. The summer capital Srinagar, which experienced mild showers during the day as well, recorded a maximum of 22.4 degree celsius on Friday, down from 28.2degC on Thursday. The city recorded 15.4 mm of rain on Thursday and Friday. The gateway into Kashmir, Qazigund recorded at maximum of 22.3degC while the tourist resort of Pahalgam witnessed a high of 20degC . At both the places, the mercury fell 2.6 to 2.8 notches below normal. In North Kashmir, Kupwara recorded a maximum of 20 degree Celsius as against the normal of 26.5degC . In the tourist resort of Gulmarg, which remains snow covered in winter, witnessed a highest of 12.2degC, some 4.6 notches below normal. "On May 30 and 31, the weather is expected to be generally cloudy with possibility of spell of light to moderate rain/thundershowers at most places with heavy rain accompanied with intense showers and gusty winds at few places," MeT director Mukhtar Ahmad said....