Temperature soars to 45 degrees in Doha

Doha and other parts of the country experienced a huge jump in the mercury level, with the maximum temperature reaching 45C, and dusty conditions on Saturday.

The Qatar Met department issued a warning for strong winds in some places along with poor visibility and dust on Sunday. Windy conditions and high seas are likely in offshore areas, too.On Friday, the Met department had said a “noticeable rise in temperature” was expected on Saturday with the maximum expected to reach the early-to-mid-40C levels in most areas “due to the effect of southerly dust-raising fresh to strong winds”, advising people to avoid exposure to direct sunlight.In line with this forecast, different parts of the country experienced hot conditions on Saturday with southerly fresh to strong winds causing blowing dust and low visibility, which dropped to below 3km in some areas. Conditions were also not suitable for marine activities as strong winds and high seas were reported from offshore areas.The Met department re-issued an advisory, prepared in co-ordination with the Ministry of Public Health, on the safety precautions to follow during dusty conditions.Meanwhile, the maximum temperature went up by 8C in the Doha airport area on Saturday - 45C - as compared to Friday, when it recorded a high of 37C. Elsewhere, Abu Hamour and Abu Samra recorded the highest temperature at 46C. This marked an increase of 8C for Abu Hamour from Friday’s 38C and 5C for Abu Samra from Friday’s 41C.Other places with high temperatures on Saturday include Wakrah at 45C (up by 12C from Friday’s 33C), Mesaieed at 45C (up by 11C from Friday’s 34C), the Hamad International Airport area at 45C (up by 10C from Friday’s 35C), Al Khor at 45C (up by 9C from Friday’s 36C), Turayna at 45C (up by 7C from Friday’s 38C) and the Qatar University area at 44C (up by 8C from Friday’s 37C), among others, according to the weather charts.On Sunday, the maximum temperature is expected to be 40C in Doha, Wakrah and Mesaieed.The forecast says hot and scattered clouds are likely along with slight to blowing dust in some places. Dusty conditions are expected offshore as well.The wind speed (northwesterly-northerly) will be 10-18 knots, going up to 22 knots in some areas. Southeasterly winds will prevail in the early hours offshore, which will become northwesterly later blowing at a speed of 13-23 knots and reaching a high of 27 knots.