As Qatar transitions from a relatively hot week to a cooler one, strong winds from Saudi Arabia have kicked up a great deal of dust, resulting in a sandstorm.
According to the Qatar Meteorology Department, visibility has fallen to less than 2km in Doha, and less than 1km in other parts of the country.
Forecasters are also warning of increased respiratory complications for those who go outside, due to the dusty weather.
So far, a tweet from the MET with a prayer to ask God to protect people from the windy conditions has received more than 1,000 retweets in two hours:
دعاء الريح :
" اللهم إني أسألك خيرها وخير مافيها وخير ما أرسلت به وأعوذ بك من شرها وشر ما فيها وشر ما أرسلت به "
— أرصاد قطر (@qatarweather) February 21, 2015
The “unstable” weather is expected to persist throughout the day, and there is also a chance of scattered rains across Qatar.
Starting tomorrow, temperatures will fall and are expected to be 6-10C less than they were last week. According to the MET, the mercury will reach a high of 23C (73F) and a low of 12C (54F) over the next few days until Tuesday.
Here’s what some people in Doha are seeing so far:
https://twitter.com/cabreraeh/status/569019455289708544/
#Doha weather today be like #FiftyShadesofSand #Sandstorm #Qatar
— Gazan Khan (@acepilotkhan) February 21, 2015
https://twitter.com/NicoleTracey/status/569026147066908673
What are you seeing today? Thoughts?
Holy dust …. Can barely see anything
lovely cool breeze though
So sad we can’t enjoy the cooler temperature because of all this dust. I’ve lived here almost all my life and can’t even remember sandstorms in Doha during my childhood.. If we had them they definitely were not this frequent in the 90s.
Anyone have recommendations for a good air filter?
Coway is good enough filter…review it on the net before you invest…I have them in all bed rooms and now they are working hard automatically because of the dust…have a good evening
Thanks, I’ll look it up. Did you buy them in Doha?
Welcome…Yes…at Techno Blue & can be found at Center Point>>>good luck
Just an update for anyone who sees this in future… I ended up buying a Coway air purifier at Techno Blue near The Centre/Megamart. We put it in the bedroom (it’s too small for the living rm) & have been running it for 2 days so far. For the first time in a long time, I woke up today without feeling like someone shoved a brick up my sinus. So, yay! Thanks for the tip @madnessisfame!!! It’s not a cure-all but it is definitely helping. Let’s see if it is strong enough for the next dust storm.
Perhaps all this dust is coming from all the construction sites… When you go from the Pearl to West Bay, for example, you can see so many piles of sand, gravel and construction wastes… I am looking also for a good air filter.