Rain, thunder and strong winds are expected in the country on Wednesday, with the unstable weather conditions likely to continue until Friday.
Informing this on Tuesday, the Qatar Met department said in its forecast that offshore areas, too, would see strong winds and high seas due to thundery conditions on Wednesday.
In view of the expected conditions, the weather office has urged people to remain cautious and avoid sea activities.
The unstable weather, expected to affect the country until midday on Friday, is the result of an extension of a low-pressure system, according to the Met department.
Cloud bands started appearing over Qatar since Tuesday morning, triggering chances of scattered rain. Thundershowers are likely between early Wednesday and midday on Friday, with the rainy spell peaking on Wednesday, the weather office said in a statement.
The prevailing winds during this period will be easterly to southeasterly, moderate to fresh, becoming strong at times - especially during thundershowers. This may be accompanied by strong sudden winds reaching 30 knots (about 55km/hour), leading to dusty conditions and a temporary drop in visibility to 1km or less in some areas, the weather office noted.
Scattered light rain was reported from some parts of the country on Tuesday evening, according to information available on the Met department’s social media channels.
The detailed forecast for inshore areas today says cloudy conditions and scattered rain, which may be accompanied by thunder in some places at times, are expected today. Doha is among the places where rain is expected Wednesday.
The wind speed in these areas may go up to 25 knots during thundershowers.
Offshore areas, too, are likely to see partly cloudy to cloudy conditions along with scattered rain, which may be thundery at times. The wind speed may reach 30 knots in these areas on Wednesday, with the sea level rising to 10ft during rain and thunder.
The forecast also shows that a drop in the maximum temperature is likely at a number of places today due to the thundery conditions. The mercury level had crept up to the mid-30C mark over the past few days.
On Wednesday, the temperature is likely to range between 24C and 30C in most places, with the forecast for Doha being 24C and 29C. In Abu Samra, the maximum temperature may touch 35C today, according to the forecast.
The Met department has advised people to follow latest weather updates and warnings through its different official social media accounts. More details available here.