This weekend’s steamy weather is just a sign of what’s to come over the next few months, local forecasters have warned.

Residents should expect humid conditions to persist from now until at least the first week of September, with few exceptions, Qatar Meteorology Department (MET) forecaster Abdullah Al Mannai told Doha News.

🔴The most important characteristic of this period, the high relative humidity, which reaches the highest 85%#Qatar pic.twitter.com/xSKcIps829

— أرصاد قطر (@qatarweather) July 15, 2016

Meanwhile, temps are expected to remain in the mid- to high 40Cs.

However, high humidity will make it feel hotter than that because the damp air makes it more difficult for the human body to evaporate sweat, which is what usually cools us down.

Farewell dry heat

Such weather is common for this time of the year, but may have caught people off-guard because of the relatively dryer heat so far, said Steff Gaulter, senior meteorologist at Al Jazeera English.

Speaking to Doha News, she explained:

“The only strange thing about this year has been the lack of humidity up till now. Normally we have a few sticky days (the weather letting us know what’s to come) before now, but instead it’s been very dry.”

That said, many people still flocked to the Corniche yesterday to spend some time outdoors, with some even playing football and cricket nearby.

And if there is a silver lining to the moister weather, it’s that windy conditions will finally die down.

However, it will still be dusty out, Gaulter said:

“Humidity is an increase in water, and water sticks to dust particles. This means the dust particles grow, so it could still look very hazy.”

Thoughts?