Cold spell to continue despite slight rise in temperatures

A cold wave sweeping across Qatar is expected to continue on Saturday though there will be a slight rise in temperatures, the Met Department said.

The weather office has forecast strong wind inshore in the northern areas and strong wind and high sea offshore. The minimum expected temperatures of 8C (Abu Samra) and maximum 19C (Doha) are higher than Friday’s minimum of 7C (Batna, Karanah) and a maximum of 14C (Doha). Northwesterly winds will blow at 10-18 knots inland, reaching up to 22 knots in northern areas. Offshore, the wind speed (northwesterly) will be 18-28 knots at first, decreasing to 12-22 knots later, the weather office said.The minimum temperatures expected in other places today are 9C (Mesaieed, Wakrah), 10C (Doha, Al Khor), 13C (Dukhan), and 14C (Ruwais); while the maximum temperatures will be 18C (Mesaieed, Wakrah); 17C (Ruwais); 16C (Dukhan); 15C (Abu Samra); and 13C (Al Khor).The Met Department reiterated its warning to avoid sea activities until Sunday, citing a wave height of 16ft and wind speed of 50 knots.