File photo used for graphical purpose
Residents in Qatar experienced a chill weather this morning as temperature dipped to a as low as nine degrees in some areas. At the time of writing this story it’s 13 degrees.
Cold weather with accompanying dusty wind is so strong that people kept themselves indoor. Many cancelled weekend outing.
Armstrong Vas, our sports correspondent, who returned from his weekly prayer at Religious Complex around 11.45 said: “Though the prayer halls were full to capacity as normal, people were heavily warm- clothed with jackets, balaclava and all.”
This correspondent, who initially braved to walk to The Peninsula office returned to take his gloves but later changed mind and called in a taxi.
The cold spell is due to Siberian high pressure accompanied by strong winds and is expected to last until Sunday.
The Met Department said that the strong north-westerly winds would bring down mercury much below the averages for this time of the year.
The night will be much colder. With strong winds, the department has warned of low horizontal visibility.
However, the wind-chill factor would make the climate feel much colder, in open areas and the southern parts of the country.
The wind is expected to blow at speeds ranging between 20 and 30 knots inland with 40 Knot wind gusts at times. With the wind picking up dust, the visibility may drop below 2 km in some areas.
Wind speed is expected to reach 43 knots offshore with waves rising to more than 16 feet at places at times.
On Saturday, the minimum temperature in the country will be 11 degree Celsius and maximum 19 degrees Celsius.
The Met department has urged all to avoid sea activities due to strong winds and rough seas.
Meanwhile, QNA reports:
Weather inshore until 6 pm on Friday will be cold during daytime and slightly dusty to blowing dust at times with some clouds, and very cold by night, the Department of meteorology said, warning of strong wind over all areas and expected low horizontal visibility.
Offshore, it will be dusty and partly cloudy, the daily weather report said, warning of strong wind and high seas.
Wind inshore will be northwesterly at a speed of 20 to 30 knots, reaching 40 knots at places at times. Offshore, it will be northwesterly at a speed of 28 to 38 knots, rising to 45 knots at places at times.
Visibility will be 4 to 8 kilometers, decreasing to 2 kilometers or less at places at times. Sea state inshore will be between 2 to 4 feet, reaching 5 feet at places at times. Offshore, it will be 10 to 13 feet, rising to 16 feet at places at times.
Tide Times and temperatures are as follows:
Area High Tide Low Tide Mini - Max
Messaid 10:00 - **:** 03:00 - 17:30 15
Wakrah 09:45 - 23:30 03:00 - 17:00 15
Doha 09:00 - 22:30 02:15 - 16:00 16
Al Khor 08:30 - 21:30 02:00 - 15:30 15
Ruwais 09:15 - 22:00 03:30 - 16:00 15
Dukhan 02:15 - 14:30 08:15 - 20:45 14
Sunrise : 06:15 LT
Sunset today : 17:19 LT
