File picture used for representation.
Doha: Qatar Meteorology Department has said that unsettled weather conditions will affect the country starting from today evening, March 20, until the beginning of Saturday.
This is because the amount of cloud is expected to increase gradually from today noon with a chance of scattered light rains.
Chance of rain further improves from Thursday night until Friday morning becoming thundery at times accompanied with strong wind causing rise in dust and low visibility in certain areas.
Meanwhile, the department added that this unsettled weather conditions mark the beginning of a period in year locally called Al Sarayat that is known for fast thunderstorm formations during a short period of time over a limited area usually at evening and night. Al Sarayat continues until mid-May, a season that is associated with severe weather such as violent lightning strikes, strong winds, heavy rain, and dust. It's called Al Sarayat because it moves usually at night on intermittent periods.
The prevailing wind during this period will be northeasterly to easterly moderate to fresh becoming strong at times especially with thunderstorms causing wave height to rise between 3 to 6ft reaching 8ft with thundery rain.
Weather department warned residents to avoid going to sea and to follow the latest updates through social media accounts.
