LAHORE, April 17: A three-day spell of gusty winds and rain that may be heavy at isolated places is beginning from Wednesday (today) in the country, posing a threat to crops especially wheat in the plains, says Pakistan Meteorological Department.

According to its latest advisory, the department said on Tuesday the spell would start from Balochistan because of a well marked westerly wave.

The wave is likely to influence Balochistan from Wednesday morning developing an intense cyclonic circulation over adjacent sea. Under the influence of this weather system, moderate to heavy rainfall associated with gusty winds exceeding 40km per hour is expected in coastal areas of Balochistan and adjoining Sindh coast, including Karachi. These rains may cause flash flooding in local rivers and streams of the area.

Due to strong gusty winds, the sea conditions along Makran coast will remain rough to very rough from Wednesday evening till Friday.

Therefore, fishermen are advised not to venture into the open sea during the period.

From Wednesday evening, the rain producing system will further extend upward to north Balochistan, adjacent western Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Punjab.

Rainfall of moderate intensity is likely over most of the places. Whereas isolated heavy rainfall is also expected. Intense rainfall along Suleman range may generate hill torrents/flash flooding on Thursday and Friday.

In Siachen area, the influence of westerly wave is likely to persist during this week yielding light to moderate snow. Sometimes snow blizzard may also be experienced.

The department has advised farmers in the plains of the country to monitor weather so as to minimise losses to their crops.

Meanwhile, due to unstable atmospheric conditions and persistent incursion of mid-latitude air mass, formation of localised convective cloud cells continued and generated rain in some cities, including Lahore, on Monday night, keeping temperatures low in the plains. The local Met office recorded 8mm of rain at the airport and 6mm at its Jail Road office. The maximum temperature was 31 degrees Celsius and the minimum 19 degrees Celsius. It will remain partly cloudy in the next 24 hours with chances of more light rain.

Okara received 20mm of rain, Bahawalnagar 12mm, Kalat 11mm, Sahiwal 5mm, Rawlakot and Multan 2mm (each) and Samungli 1mm.