A lightning bolt is seen above a residential neighborhood during rain in Karachi, Pakistan. ? Reuters

ISLAMABAD: Widespread rain and thunderstorm coupled with gusty winds is expected to hit lower Sindh, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said Tuesday, after Karachi witnessed onset of rain spell.

The PMD said that there have been chances of isolated heavy to more heavy falls in lower Sindh, including Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad and Karachi divisions, on Wednesday.

Scattered places in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Kashmir may also receive rain in the next 24 hours.

Rainfall is likely in at scattered places in Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad, Kalat, Quetta, Sibbi, Zhob, Naseerabad, Bahawalpur, Multan, Sahiwal, D.G. Khan, Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Hazara divisions, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, and at isolated places in Malakand and Peshawar divisions.

"Seasonal low lies over north Balochistan. Strong monsoon currents are penetrating southern parts of the country, while moderate currents in upper parts and Kashmir," the Met Office said.

Earlier, a Met Office spokesman said in a statement that heavy to very heavy falls may generate urban flooding in Karachi, Hyderabad and Mirpur Khas divisions on Wednesday and Thursday and flash flooding in the vulnerable nullas/streams of eastern Balochistan during the period.

Onset of rain spell in Karachi

Tuesday dawned with piercing heat in Karachi, however, by mid day burst into clouds with intermittent spells of heavy showers in different parts of the megapolis.

Sindh office of Pakistan Meteorological Department in its warning said a strong monsoon weather system from India, heading towards Sindh has almost reached Karachi and consequently low to moderate fall was reported.

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The low pressure, he said may gain intensity with possible widespread rain and thundershowers in the megapolis as well as in other lower divisions of the province.

Under influence of the strong monsoon system from India, the Met Office said moderate to heavy and very heavy rainfalls can also be expected in the given areas, along with scattered parts of upper Sindh during next few days.

It advised fishermen to take all precautionary measures and not to venture in deep sea till September 2.