A weather warning remained in place for Bahrain yesterday (April 13) as heavy winds lashed the country and shrouded it in a dust haze.

With just days to go before the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, visibility was poor at Bahrain International Circuit and merchants in the Manama Suq reported reduced trade and minor damage due to the strong winds, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

It comes almost a fortnight after one of the worst sandstorms in recent history buffeted Bahrain and its GCC neighbours, on April 1.

A forecast issued by the Turkish State Meteorological Service said that air quality would be very poor yesterday evening, with a dust concentration of 1600ug/m3 predicted for 9pm.

Warning

This is around 32 times higher than the World Health Organisation guideline limit for airborne particulate matter of 50ug/m3.

A weather alert issued yesterday by Bahrain's own Meteorological Directorate appealed for the public to be cautious of strong winds and dust haze in several parts of the country.

It forecast strong north-westerly winds reaching up to 33 knots with rising sand in some places, urging the public to "be prudent".

A similar warning was issued by the Coastguard, calling on seafarers to take care in the strong winds and ensure their safety.

A senior doctor at Salmaniya Medical Complex told the GDN yesterday that they had not seen the same influx of patients as they experienced during the sandstorm earlier this month.

"During the last sandstorm we had several patients at the emergency department complaining of difficulty in breathing and others with asthma complications," he said.

"But this time, up until now, we have not had many cases because the weather was not as bad."

There were also no reports of any flights being delayed due to the weather yesterday, unlike previously.

Meanwhile, the BIC in Sakhir was covered with a thick layer of dust, including on the highway and roads leading to the venue.

Traders in Manama also said there were fewer visitors to the old suq as people chose to stay indoors.

"Most of the traders have complained of poor business because there were not many customers in Manama with this dusty weather," said Manama Suq committee vice-chairman Mahmood Al Namlaiti, who added that a canopy near Bab Al Bahrain had been damaged in the gusts.

"We would like the authorities to install proper facilities in the suq that can withstand such weather conditions," he said. - TradeArabia News Service