Dusty conditions affecting Bahrain could continue for another three weeks, said the kingdom’s Meteorological Directorate in a statement.

"Bahrain has been affected by fresh to strong north-westerly winds reaching near gale force at times around the first week of June," it said, according to the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

"The strong Shamal winds led to an area of dust haze, thick at times, moving from the southern part of Iraq into the Arabian peninsula and the Arabian Gulf with local rising sand especially in exposed areas resulting in moderate to poor visibility.

"The reason for the Shamal wind is the formation of the seasonal low pressure waves centred over central and southern Pakistan and extend into the Arabian Gulf which lead to this winds we are facing called Albareh.

"The Albareh blows for 40 days but it may shorten or extend from year to year,” it added.

However, the dusty conditions have lowered temperatures, which are expected to make it a cooler summer than usual, according to one of the country's top physicists and astronomers Dr Waheeb Al Nasr.

"If these winds were not happening, the weather in Bahrain would be very hot and humid for much longer," he said.

"Sometimes these winds are high velocity and sometimes they are mild - this time they are a bit more but that is not abnormal. These help the weather stay pleasant because when these winds are mild, it gets hot and humid very quickly."

Dr Al Nasr said the weather in Bahrain and around the world had been mild so far this summer because of the magnetic field around the sun and sun spots.

"This changes every now and then and this time it has affected cosmic radiation and contributed to more cloud cover, leading to somewhat milder temperatures," he said.

However, he expects hot and humid temperatures to return towards the beginning of next month.

The Health Ministry last Saturday warned people with asthma or allergy problems to stay indoors and wear face masks and take their medication regularly. – TradeArabia News Service