Partly cloudy skies due to dust storm at 8am today. Pic: Qassim Rahmatullah / The Peninsula
"Sandstorm, Drive Carefully" caution all the traffic signboards across Qatar.
Dusty and partly cloudy skies were visible over the country accompanied with northerly fresh to strong wind said Qatar Meteorology Department on its social media.
It also added that visibility is expected to improve gradually by afternoon.
Visibility in certain parts of the country were less than 1 km as a result of the dust mass due to strong northwesterly winds.
Meanwhile in its daily report the department said that weather inshore until 6 pm on Wednesday will be moderate temperature daytime with scattered clouds and chance of light rain at first, blowing dust to dusty at some places at times, relatively cold by night, warning of strong wind expected daytime with poor visibility at places at times.
Offshore, it will be partly cloudy with a chance of scattered rain to the north at first, becoming slight dust to dusty later, the report added, warning of expected strong wind and high sea.
Wind inshore will be northwesterly 14 to 24 knot gusting to 30 knot at places at times decreases to 04 to 14 knot by night.
Offshore, it will be southeasterly at first, becoming northwesterly 20 to 30 knot, gusting to 40 knot at times.
Visibility will be 4 to 8/3 kilometers or less at places at times.
Sea state inshore will be 2 to 4 feet, rises to 5 feet at times. Offshore, it will be 6 to 8 feet, rises to 14 feet at times.
In a previous report the department had said that this wind will be accompanied with a drop in temperature from Wednesday evening until Saturday, February 29 which will cause cold weather at night and mild temperature ranging between 19 to 25 degree Celsius.
The department urged all residents to be cautious, avoid marine activities until Friday, february 28 and to follow updates only through official channels.
