Sand Storm

Front page of today's newspaper     50km/h winds

For the past few days we have been experiencing a sand storm called the Albawareh. This is common between end May and mid July in Qatar. The Albawareh is caused by the Indian monsoon season as  low pressure systems extend over the Arabian Gulf, Iran, and the Arabian Peninsula. These low pressures meet high pressure systems coming from the Mediterranean. The systems clash over Saudi Arabia creating high winds, hot temperatures, and rising sands. It helps to look at a map.

Footprints in the sand

Vergie sweeping the front door -- again

This storm began on the Friday and is expected to last until Thursday. Typical of the Albawareh, the strong northerly winds decrease during the night and increase by midday. Today the Qatar weather stations are predicting "overcast with a blanket of dust". Thankfully for our family, this is merely an unpleasant experience. The front step is constantly in need of sweeping and the mess in the house is trying: sand blows in around the cracks in the windows, covers the tables if you leave a door open for a few minutes, and leaves footprints all over the tile.









Lisa has also learned a few lessons about laundry. The clothes dry very quickly because of the winds and the temperature (still 35-40 degrees Celsius). But if the clean clothes are left on the line for more than 20 minutes they start to get dirty. And sometimes the drying rack blows over -- wet clothes on sandy patio. Not nice.

When we came home from work on Sunday, the wind had shredded the BBQ cover and left behind a thick layer of sand. This BBQ is almost brand new but now looks like it has been outside for decades!

Downtown buildings difficult to see

Sandstorms can also be dangerous. The blowing sand causes areas of low visibility making driving hazardous. Sometimes we can't even see the house across the street. Outside the city is especially dangerous because of the wide open desert spaces and nothing to block the wind. People with chronic respiratory illnesses (like asthma) are encouraged to stay indoors. Inhaling fine sand particles can cause major respiratory problems. Most people who work outside wear a face mask and long sleeve shirt and pants. The sand does actually pelt your skin.

If you want to see a sandstorm at its worst, have a click on this YouTube video. The video is from a driver watching the Albawareh in Kuwait in 2011. The video is 10 minutes long but you get the idea pretty quick. The man is speaking Arabic but even without sound, the image is powerful.
YouTube video of sandstorm in Kuwait