Second sandstorm of the week expected to blow into Qatar this afternoon

As another round of northwesterly winds makes its way toward Qatar, authorities have cautioned residents that a sandstorm may develop by this afternoon:

https://twitter.com/Baladiya1/status/584406456646045698

According to the Qatar Meteorology Department (MET), a high pressure front from Saudi Arabia is expected to cause wind speeds to reach 25 knots (46km/hr) in some parts of the country, conditions that are expected to persist through Monday.

In a statement, the MET added:

“The fresh northwesterly wind might cause blowing sand and dust at places especially at the open areas, which may reduce visibility.”

However, it looks unlikely that today’s weather will be as severe as what residents saw on Wednesday night/Thursday morning. That sandstorm caused schools to close, flights to be delayed and several hundred people to fall ill.

Speaking to Doha News, Steff Gaulter, senior meteorologist at Al Jazeera English, said:

“This doesn’t look like a repeat performance of Wednesday night. It doesn’t look that bad, but (it’s) still far from ideal to have another sandstorm so close to the previous monster of a storm.”

On Twitter, she added:

Rumours of more dust today: true. Rumours it will be as bad as last Wednesday: false

— Steff Gaulter (@WeatherSteff) April 5, 2015

Meanwhile, as summer draws near, the MET is forecasting that temperatures will reach a high of 35C (95F) over the next few days, and a low of 21C (70F).

Thoughts?