The weather bureau has issued an advisory saying that fresh to strong winds accompanied by dust may hit the country early this afternoon, and the windy conditions may continue until late today.

The advisory comes just days after a heavy sandstorm of an intensity not seen in a long time lashed Qatar late last Wednesday.

But a senior weather forecaster clarified that today it won’t be a repeat of what happened on Wednesday.

“There is absolutely no chance of a repeat of Wednesday’s sandstorm. No dust or sandstorm is brewing,” said Abdullah Al Mannai, researcher and analyst at the weather bureau.

He told this newspaper: “There will be some dust in the air, so it doesn’t mean there would be a dust storm like the one we witnessed on Wednesday”.

A weather forecast issued by the bureau, meanwhile, said Qatar was expected to be affected by high pressure extending from the north of Saudi Arabia, beginning midday today. It will be associated with a northwesterly to northerly wind, fresh to strong, with speeds of between 10 and 20 knots (18 and 36 km an hour), reaching 25 knots (46 km an hour) at times at places inshore.

Offshore, the wind speed may peak at 30 knots, or 55.6 km an hour. The sea will be choppy, with waves of up to eight feet.

“This situation will continue until the end of Monday (tomorrow),” said the bureau.

Since there will be some dust with the northwesterly wind, visibility could be poor in open areas.

Temperatures will be between 21 and 24 degrees Celsius (minimum) and 32 and 35 in Doha and may reach 36 or more at places at times.

The Weather Bureau said inshore there will be strong winds by afternoon and poor horizontal visibility due to dust.

Offshore, by the evening there will be high winds and choppy seas.

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QNE

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