Qatar

Heavy rain, temperature drop bring relief to residents

November 11, 2019 | 12:36 AM

Dust swirls across the Doha skyline shortly before the rain started. PICTURE: Jayan Orma

* More showers expected in some places today * Sunday sees thunderstorm, strong winds and severe dusty conditions * Authorities advise people to exercise caution in inclement weather

Doha and other parts of Qatar experienced a thunderstorm and heavy rain Sunday along with strong winds and dusty conditions for some time.The rain came as a relief as it brought down the temperature at a number of places, including in Doha.Today's forecast says thundery rain is again expected in some places along with strong winds, according to the Qatar Met department. There is a similar forecast for offshore areas, too, which are also likely to see high seas.In a tweet last evening, the weather office said the chances of sporadic rain in some areas will return today, which may turn into thunderstorms, but will be less severe than what the country experienced yesterday.

Tankers and workers were deployed to remove rainwater. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam

Heavy rain yesterday afternoon. PICTURE: Jayaram

An uprooted tree on Airport Road. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil

Rainwater removal in progress on a waterlogged road yesterday. PICTURE: Jayaram

The dust storm led to a sharp drop in visibility yesterday. PICTURE: Ram Chand

Taking no chance, a deliveryman waits for the rain to stop on the hard shoulder of a Doha road. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed

Vehicles on a waterlogged road. PICTURE: Thajudheen

An aircraft moving among the rain clouds over Doha. PICTURE: Jayan Orma

The Met department urged people to follow the latest updates through its official social media accounts.The wind speed may go up to 25 knots during thundershowers in both inshore and offshore areas today, with the sea level rising to 8ft.The detailed forecast says cloudy conditions are expected at times and there is a chance of scattered rain, which may become thundery in some places, with blowing dust also likely occasionally. The weather map showed that the chances of rain are particularly good in places like Abu Samra and Mesaieed today.Offshore, too, it will be cloudy today and there is a possibility of scattered rain, which may turn thundery in some places at times.The minimum temperature today is expected to be 21C in Dukhan and Abu Samra, 22C in Al Khor, 23C in Wakrah and Mesaieed, and 25C in Doha and Ruwais. The maximum, on the other hand, will range from 27C in Dukhan to 30C in Doha.Yesterday, a minimum temperature of 19C was recorded at the Hamad International Airport (HIA) area and Al Khor. In comparison, the minimum was 25C and 24C in these two places, respectively, on Saturday. Similarly, the minimum temperature dropped to 20C in Doha (airport area) yesterday as compared to 25C on Saturday, 20C in Wakrah (24C on Saturday), 20C in Mesaieed (22C on Saturday), 20C in Abu Hamour (25C on Saturday) and 21C in the Qatar University area (23C on Saturday), the weather charts showed. The maximum ranged from 29C in the HIA area, Dukhan, Ruwais and Umm Bab to 32C in Karana, Batna and Jumayliyah, with Doha (airport area) recording a high of 31C.In Doha, yesterday afternoontarget="_blank"'>

November 11, 2019 | 12:36 AM