Following last night’s thunderstorms and a week of inclement weather, the Qatar Meteorology Department is reporting a chance of more rain today in certain parts of the country.

Temperatures will range from 19C (66F) to 27C (81F) today, but may dip tomorrow night, as winds are expected to pick up, the MET said in a statement.

The ensuing swirling dust will mean lower visibility over the next few evenings. The winds are a result of an extension of high pressure from Saudi Arabia, and have been forecast to last until Monday.

Gas scent

Over the past few days, Qatar residents have been complaining about a strong gasoline smell in the air, that may have been facilitated by windy conditions.

On Thursday, the smell hung in the air across much of Doha, from West Bay to Al Wabb to Al Muntazah. Residents on the Pearl-Qatar and in Bin Omran and Al Hilal also reported a scent of gas in the air.

This morning, the air appears to have cleared up in West Bay, with residents reporting little to no smell at the Pearl or on the Corniche. But Al Waab, Al Gharafa and Duhail, as well as the area around IKEA, continue to smell heavily of gas.

Several authorities contacted by Doha News, including a Ministry of Interior spokesman and a MET forecaster, said they did not know where the smell was coming from. The Ministry of Environment has not responded to a request for comment.

Does anyone know more? Thoughts?