Unsettled weather and rain are expected in the country this weekend, the weather report shows.
In line with this forecast, the Qatar Met department has said a thunderstorm is expected by Thursday evening and it may be accompanied by strong winds.
The weather office has also issued a warning for thundery rain, windy conditions and high seas in offshore areas Thursday.
The Met department said unsettled weather conditions would affect the country from Thursday evening until the beginning of Saturday. The cloud amount is expected to increase gradually and the chances of rain will improve from tonight until tomorrow morning. Also, the rain may turn thundery at times, accompanied by strong winds that will cause rising dust and low visibility in some areas, the report states.
The season this time of the year (locally called AlSarayat) is known for fast thunderstorm formations in a short period of time over a limited area, usually at evening and night. 
The prevailing winds during this period will be northeasterly to easterly in nature, moderate to fresh and becoming strong at times, especially during thunderstorms. This, in turn, will cause the wave height to rise to 3-6ft and reach a high of 8ft during thundershowers.
The Met department has advised people to be careful in view of the expected conditions, avoid going to sea due to unsettled weather conditions, and follow latest updates through its social media accounts.
Meanwhile, Thursday’s detailed forecast says the wind speed may go up to 23 knots in some inshore areas and 22 knots offshore during thundery rain, while the sea level may rise to 7ft. 
Scattered clouds are expected inshore and there is a chance of light rain from the evening, which may turn thundery at times. It will be relatively cold by night.
Cloudy conditions are likely offshore, too, along with scattered rain – which may become thundery occasionally.
The minimum temperature Thursday is expected to be 11C in Mesaieed, Al Khor and Wakrah and 19C in Doha. The maximum, on the other hand, will range from 24C in Ruwais to 27C in Al Khor, with Doha likely to see a high of 26C.
On Wednesday, the minimum temperature was 12C in Mesaieed and Al Khor, while in Doha it was 18C. The maximum was 28C in the Qatar University area, Sheehaniya, Mesaieed, Turayna and Karana, and 27C in Doha, Abu Hamour, etc.
In an earlier post on social media, the Met department had said the start of spring marks the onset of the “season of sudden changes” – AlSarayat – which will continue from now until mid-May. This period is marked by continuous weather fluctuations.
AlSarayat is known to have quick convective cloud formations and sudden thunderstorms during the evening, marked by heavy rain and sudden downdraft winds. 
“The AlSarayat season is associated with severe weather such as lightning strikes, strong winds, heavy rain and dust,” the department explained.


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