RAJESH MISHRA

DOHA THE suffocating duststorm, which swept across the country on Thursday, is expected to continue for the next five days and the Met office has urged residents to take necessary precautions against it.

Talking to Qatar Tribune, the Head of Forecast and Analysis Section of the Met department Abdulla Mohammed al Mannai said, “The moderate, fresh southeasterly and south-westerly winds coupled with the heavy sandstorm in the eastern part of the Gulf areas have caused the duststorm. The dusty weather is expected to continue for the next five days.” Mannai added, “The southeasterly and south-westerly winds lifted the dust from the surface on Thursday and deposited it into the air.

Maximum dust was seen in the afternoon when the wind died out. Besides, the heavy sandstorm in eastern Gulf areas aided the dusty weather conditions.” According to the Met official, though there will be a shift in the direction of the wind from south-easterly and south-westerly to north-westerly on Friday afternoon, the dusty weather conditions will continue for 72 hours from Saturday onwards with the speed of wind between 20 to 30 knots, touching 38 knots at some places.

He said that visibility would be reduced from four kilometers to as low as 2,000 metres at some places whereas the sea waves would hover between 9 to 12 feet going up to 14 feet at some places.

“There is nothing abnormal about the weather conditions as it marks the transition from winter to spring. The maximum and minimum temperature will hover between 24-27 degree Celsius and 15-18 degree Celsius respectively.

However, the residents must take necessary precaution to protect themselves from weather related ailments,” he added Meanwhile, commuters had a tough time as dust not only reduced visibility considerably but also made breathing difficult.