Flooding brings Qatar to near standstill

Doha - The country's interior ministry pleaded for drivers to "be cautious" while travelling in the rainy conditions.

By AFP

Published: Wed 25 Nov 2015, 12:24 PM

Last updated: Thu 26 Nov 2015, 2:10 AM

Qatar was hit by heavy flooding on Wednesday causing gridlock on the desert country's roads as well as closures of schools and the US embassy.
Overnight rain made many roads near impassable for commuters amid reports on social media that even Doha's Hamad International Airport was affected, due to leaks at the estimated $17 billion (16 billion euros) building, which opened last year.

Rainy clouds continue to be advected towards #Qatar as more rains are expected in the next hours. #DohaRain pic.twitter.com/rqkiEAjqdq
- ????? ??? (@Qatar_Weather) November 25, 2015

The heaviest rain - 66 millimetres, according to the Qatar Meteorology Department - fell around the airport but Hamad International said that flights were operating normally, despite the weather conditions.
The US embassy said that the weather had forced it to shut on Wednesday and the offices would not open again until next week.
"Due to inclement weather, the US Embassy in Qatar will be closed today," it said on Twitter.
The country's interior ministry pleaded for drivers to "be cautious" while travelling in the rainy conditions.
World Cup 2022 host Qatar is well-known for its fierce summer temperatures, forcing the tournament to be played instead in November and December.