The Met department attributed the conditions to a phenomenon called sea fog, which formed in offshore areas to the east and affected the country on Monday and on Sunday.
The foggy spell is likely to continue on Tuesday and over the next few days, but may not be as prolonged as it was on Monday, according to a senior weather official.
"What the country witnessed Monday morning and later in the evening could be described as sea fog. The fog rose beyond some high-rise buildings and affected visibility across the country," Abdulla al-Mannai, director of the Met department at the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, told Gulf Times.
This morning, he added, the foggy conditions are likely to last for around 15 minutes at one stretch and may not be as prolonged as what has been witnessed over the past two days.
Commuters, meanwhile, had a tough time on Monday as visibility dipped across Doha and other places. Traffic movement was relatively slow in some places - for a while - as the conditions remained difficult for motorists.
The authorities, on their part, issued a number of warnings and advisories on driving safely in the fog.
In particular, places lying the eastern coast saw visibility drop drastically due to the dense fog Monday.
"Thick fog affecting eastern Qatar with visibility dropping below 300m in Doha, Wakrah, Mesaieed and Al Khor," the Met department tweeted in the evening, advising people to be cautious. Zero visibility was also detected at times, including in places such as the Hamad International Airport areas and Al Khor.
Later, around 8pm, the Met department reported widespread fog over most areas in the country, accompanied by zero visibility at times. The conditions were expected to last until early this morning.
Residents put up images and video clips of the fog - rising from the Doha sea - on social media, while sources said the conditions adversely affected the movement of luxury boats berthed in marinas at The Pearl-Qatar and West Bay in the morning. Some were unable to venture into the sea through the day as the fog returned towards the evening, it was found.
On Tuesday, poor visibility is again expected in most parts of the country - including offshore areas - in the early hours of the day due to misty and foggy conditions, dropping to 1km or less.
Mild daytime conditions have been forecast and some clouds are also expected. It will be relatively cold by night.
The minimum temperature will be 14C in Abu Samra, followed by 15C in Al Khor, while in Doha it will be 19C. The maximum, on the other hand, is likely to be 24C in Doha and 22-23C in most other places.
Monday, a minimum temperature of 13C was recorded in Abu Samra until 5.30pm, while it was 17C in the Doha airport area. The maximum touched 30C in Sheehaniya and Jumayliyah.
A view of the Museum of Islamic Art when thick fog blanketed Doha Monday morning. PICTURE: Jayan Orma
Visibility dropped sharply in the morning and then again late in the afternoon as thick fog blanketed Doha and other parts of Qatar on Monday.
