The country is in for another cold spell from tomorrow even as the Qatar Met department warned of more thundershowers today.
In a report yesterday, the Met department said a Siberian high-pressure system was expected to affect the country from tomorrow dawn. It will be accompanied by “northwesterly fresh to strong winds over all areas”.
“As a result, a noticeable drop in temperatures is expected,” the report said. In Doha, the maximum temperature will range between 17C and 20C and the minimum between 10C and 13C, while it will be cooler in some places outside the city.
Also, strong chilly winds will make it feel colder, the weather office has said, adding that sea warnings will continue until Monday, February 20.
The minimum temperature has gone up in most places over the past few days, hovering around the 18-20C mark, and similar conditions are expected today as well.
Meanwhile, the Met department warned of more thundery rain in Qatar today along with strong winds. Similar conditions – and high seas – are also likely in offshore areas.
The country continued to be affected by a state of instability due to a low-pressure trough, the weather office explained. The atmospheric instability was expected to peak until this evening and conditions would become more favourable for moderate to heavy rain in most areas, becoming thundery at times and accompanied by strong winds and high seas.
Southeasterly-northeasterly winds will blow at 5-15 knots in inshore areas, going up to 25 knots during thundery rain. They will later become northwesterly and blow at a speed of 8-18 knots, reaching a high of 22 knots, towards the north by night.
Offshore, northeasterly winds will blow at 10-20 knots at first, becoming northwesterly later and blowing at a speed of 15-25/28 knots. The sea level, meanwhile, may rise to 7-9ft.
Hazy and cloudy conditions are also expected in both inshore and offshore areas today.
As had been forecast, different parts of the country received rain yesterday as well. While light and scattered rain was reported during the day, the Met department issued a warning for thundershowers at night and advised people to be cautious in view of the prevailing unstable weather conditions.
It also urged them to avoid venturing into the sea due to the inclement weather.
Further, the department re-issued a list of safety measures to be followed during thunderstorms.
On Wednesday, Al Khor (20mm) and Dukhan (17.2mm) received the highest rainfall in the country, according to weather charts.
A vehicle making its way through a water-logged road in Doha yesterday. PICTURE: Thajudheen
