KUWAIT CITY, Jan 8: The Meteorological Department has forecast that the country will be affected by dust-raising winds beginning Friday evening and continuing until Saturday morning, accompanied by a chance of scattered rainfall. Overall, the weather during the weekend is expected to be mild during the daytime, while temperatures will drop significantly at night, becoming cold to very cold, with the possibility of frost forming in agricultural and desert areas.

Acting Director of the Meteorological Department, Darrar Al-Ali, explained that weather maps and numerical forecasting models indicate that the country is currently under the influence of an extension of a surface high-pressure system. This system is expected to gradually weaken, allowing a low-pressure system accompanied by a cold front to advance. As a result, southeasterly winds will become active before shifting to northwesterly winds, leading to dusty conditions from Friday evening until Saturday morning, along with chances of scattered rain.

Al-Ali noted that the weather on Thursday will be mild, with northwesterly to variable winds that are light to moderate in speed, ranging between 6 and 28 kilometers per hour. Maximum temperatures are expected to range between 19 and 21 degrees Celsius. Sea conditions will be slight to moderate, with wave heights ranging from 1 to 3 feet.

Regarding Thursday night, he said the weather will turn cold to very cold, with light and variable winds blowing at speeds of 6 to 22 km/h. There is a chance of frost forming in agricultural and desert areas, and some scattered clouds are expected to appear later in the night. Minimum temperatures will range between 5 and 7 degrees Celsius, while sea conditions will remain calm, with wave heights between 1 and 2 feet.

For Friday, Al-Ali forecast mild weather with partly cloudy to cloudy skies. Southeasterly winds will be light to moderate, ranging between 6 and 38 kilometers per hour. Maximum temperatures are expected to range between 20 and 22 degrees Celsius, and the sea will be slight to moderate, with waves reaching between 1 and 5 feet.

On Friday night, the weather is expected to become cooler, with skies ranging from partly to mostly cloudy. Southeasterly winds will gradually shift to northwesterly winds, becoming moderate to brisk and occasionally strong, with speeds reaching between 20 and 60 kilometers per hour. These conditions are likely to cause dust storms, particularly in open areas, and there is a chance of scattered rainfall, especially over northern regions. Minimum temperatures will range between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius, while sea conditions will be moderate to rough, with wave heights between 4 and 7 feet.

Looking ahead to Saturday, Al-Ali said the weather will be mild and partly cloudy, with northwesterly winds that are light to moderate but may become active at times, reaching speeds of 15 to 45 kilometers per hour. There is a possibility of dust in exposed areas, along with light scattered rain over northern regions. Maximum temperatures are expected to range between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius. Sea conditions will remain moderate to rough, with wave heights ranging from 3 to 6 feet.

As for Saturday night, the weather will turn cold, with skies ranging from partly cloudy to cloudy. Winds will be northwesterly to variable, light to moderate in speed, ranging between 8 and 32 kilometers per hour. Minimum temperatures are expected to range between 5 and 7 degrees Celsius, while the sea will be slight to moderate, with wave heights between 2 and 4 feet.