ISLAMABAD, Jan 15: Scatt-ered rain and thunderstorm are expected in various parts of the country over the next three days.

The Met Office said on Tuesday that recent intermittent rains had left a positive impact on crops and improved water levels in reservoirs.

However, if the rain spell proved too heavy, it might have a negative impact on wheat crops, agricultural experts said.

Rain would increase the ground water table and help overcome loadshedding problems, they added.

The coming rain spell in the federal capital would have a cool and chilly effect.

Scattered rain and thunderstorm with snowfall is expected over the hills in Upper Punjab, Islamabad and some isolated places of southern Punjab in the next three days from Jan 16 till 18, the Met department says.

An official of Met office said the westerly weather system had approached Balochistan and was likely to persist for more than 72 hours.

In NWFP, Kashmir and Northern Areas, including quake-affected zones, scattered rain and thunderstorm with snowfall over the hills is expected from Jan 16 till 18.—APP