LAHORE, Sept 17: The monsoon depression over the Bay of Bengal further accentuated into a deep depression on Wednesday, making meteorologists worry about its devastating effects if at all it reaches Pakistan.

“The system having flood generating capacity has moved over to land and is located over East Orissa. It is at present moving in a westward direction, but we will be able to assess whether it will affect Pakistan or not only after its arrival over central India (Rajasthan) in two to three days,” a senior meteorologist said.

He agreed that the system was significant, but said the meteorological department had not as yet issued any warning to the quarters concerned because it was premature to do so right now.

He said a westerly wave over the Northern Areas was already sucking in some moisture from the depression. It was likely to move away by the time the depression reached central India. But another westerly wave over western Afghanistan would enter Pakistan in the meantime.

“Yes, there could be flood generating rains if the system moves towards west/northwest direction after reaching Rajasthan and meets the westerly system,” he said. He, however, reiterated that he was only discussing the possibilities and the real impact of the depression depended on its movement which “we are watching closely”.

Meanwhile, weather remained pleasant in Lahore mainly because of strong winds and a cloudy weather early in the morning. The maximum temperature was 34 degrees Celsius and the minimum 24 degrees Celsius, with 68 per cent humidity in the morning and 54 per cent in the evening.

The Met office saw chances of thunderstorm and rain in the city during the next 24 hours. It also forecast similar weather conditions in almost the entire Punjab, the NWFP and the Northern Areas.