Is winter in Doha always this cold? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Is winter in Doha always this cold?

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 December 2011 - 12:48

After spending the last 7+ years in Oman and Abu Dhabi I am really struggling with the cold here. Please someone tell me this is just an unusual cold snap!! If not I will have to get expand my winter wardrobe

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 December 2011 - 22:14
MariaV - we are from the Chicago area as well and this is our 2nd winter here (last one was about 8 years ago). After coming from the northern winters we too are greatly enjoying this (reminds me of spring). The boys are enjoying the weather as well. Were you from Chicago itself or suburbs? We are from the southwestern suburbs (near Orland Park). We're from the northwestern burbs. I grew up in Mt. Prospect, but most recently lived in Wauconda. In my youth, I spent four years teaching at Oak Forest High School, before relocating to the northside, so I know the Orland area very well. It's always nice to hear from a fellow Illinoisian. :) For whatever reason the weather seems more like fall to me than spring, but either way it is a nice break from hot, hot, hot (which by the way, I also love). <em>edited by mariav on 06/12/2011</em>
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 05 December 2011 - 14:38
Just loving the cool mornings. I get up at 4am, just to enjoy the cool breeze, smell the fresh air,feel the goosebumps from the chill with the doors onto patio wide open, no trucks, not a sound, - a perfect Doha moment. Til the Mosque wakes up in the distance, the trucks start rolling past, and the sun comes up. Summer heat seems a distant memory. Gosh you're keen! Drove to work yesterday morning in snow. Don't have to go far so wasn't a problem driving. Was also very quiet and peaceful! Not many people around on a Sunday morning at 7am! Speak to you soon. xx
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 December 2011 - 14:23
Just loving the cool mornings. I get up at 4am, just to enjoy the cool breeze, smell the fresh air,feel the goosebumps from the chill with the doors onto patio wide open, no trucks, not a sound, - a perfect Doha moment. Til the Mosque wakes up in the distance, the trucks start rolling past, and the sun comes up. Summer heat seems a distant memory.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 05 December 2011 - 13:34
I remember the Doha winters and laughing as we shivered when the temp dropped to about 15 degrees! Like many I had no winter type clothes and had to go out and buy a couple of cardigans! This morning I opened my curtains to a sparkling white world and clear blue skies. I am cosy in my home and enjoying the view of our local hills right on my doorstep which are covered in snow. The UK doesn't have tropical weather but it cerainly isn't ALWAYS grey and miserable and we don't miss the stifling heat of the spring and summers in the ME. :) <em>edited by JoyceB on 05/12/2011</em>
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 December 2011 - 12:46
Definitely colder than the last three winters we have been here. Wondering if this is a passing phase or we will need to get heaters soon.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 05 December 2011 - 09:54
This is def the coldest winter I've been here for, still lovely enough to go outside in the sun but my little boy is wearing thick pants and jerseys and I'm off to buy him a hat today. We used our heaters winter 09/10, survived without last winter and this year the heaters are back on. The temp outside is not so bad, in a western style house it would heat up and be fairly warm inside but the small tinted windows here and thick walls keep any heat from the sun out and our house is COLD. Am missing my Ugg Boots which I left back in NZ ;)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 December 2011 - 08:26
MariaV - we are from the Chicago area as well and this is our 2nd winter here (last one was about 8 years ago). After coming from the northern winters we too are greatly enjoying this (reminds me of spring). The boys are enjoying the weather as well. Were you from Chicago itself or suburbs? We are from the southwestern suburbs (near Orland Park).
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 04 December 2011 - 21:07
I laughed Gill when you mentioned the rain in 2006 as I remember going to the Asian Games and it poured with rain! All that holding of breath whilst the horse slipped up the slope!! It was supposed to be the coldest winter for 40 years or something. I haven't used our radiators since then, but this winter has got off to a similar start. It rained a lot in 2006. I think the main problem here is that once the houses get cold (floors etc) it is hard to warm them up again until the outside temp changes. It can be very windy during December and January as well. The last two winters have been very mild so we have been lucky. I am actually enjoying the change of weather - sorry for those of you with visitors coming for some sun! At least it isn't grey and miserable all the time like the UK!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 December 2011 - 17:23
Oh for sure it is the wind chill that makes it worse. Nice in the sun but in the shade or inside it is cold.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 04 December 2011 - 16:00
I must be mad for sunbathing by the pool! - have got a bit of a tan too, but that wind was icy today - Doha is def colder than Dubai - it is usually still hot in Dec there! The sun is actually warm here without the wind.... <em>edited by chizz on 04/12/2011</em>
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 04 December 2011 - 15:44
haha, I guess it's all relative - cause I thought the last two years were pretty warm compared to the ones before that! (and downright balmy compared to my New England winters) Christmas of 2006 was the coldest I've felt here. We camped in the desert and froze! But then again, I wore shorts the next day in the sun. I think the big factor is the rain and wind....
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 December 2011 - 15:29
This is our third winter and I agree with DebK it is definitely colder earlier. We arrived right after Christmas 2008 from Chicago (now that's cold!) and I would say the temps that winter were very similar to what we are experiencing today. The last two winters have been quite warm in my opinion, so much that I don't really think we needed a change in wardrobe at all. Sorry for those of you wishing for a poolside Christmas, but I am loving the change in temps. :)
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 04 December 2011 - 14:53
This is definitely cooler than it was the last two winters. It's not so much the actual temperature, but the fact that we've been getting quite a bit of rain and so it's very damp. We've used our portable heaters that we bought two years ago more in the last two weeks than ever before. (In fact, one of them was still in the box and I had to unpackage it and put it together. Haha!) It's also the first year I have worn mitts out and about, and I have given in for the first time in 2 1/2 years and am wearing socks and running shoes instead of sandals. :(
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EW GURU
Latest post on 04 December 2011 - 14:41
55F...maybe I don't remember it being this cold last Christmas as we camped in the desert overnight for Christmas Eve and was fine in flannel pjs and a gap hoodie.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 December 2011 - 13:22
Feel more gutted for family who are coming to visit me and 'the sun' over Christmas!!! :O/ I keep telling them to bring jumpers because it's cold and they keep laughing and tell me I'm exhagerating....Oh well, jokes on them when they land in a fortnights time...Mwhahahaha! ;o)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 December 2011 - 13:10
Oh no starting to wish I was going home to UK for Christmas now as at least I would have the heating inside. My apartment is freezing here, sitting wrapped up with a fleece blanket while I type with freezing cold fingers. Suppose over the years I have gotten used to hot weather and turned into a bit of a woose. Will be on moaning again in the summer when its too hot. :\:
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 04 December 2011 - 12:59
I'd say yes, it's pretty normal - although I think it's colder earlier this year than last. The coldest I've experienced here was 2006-2007, the year of the Asian games when Doha was completed flooded for a month!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 December 2011 - 12:56
I've just moved from Qatar to Dubai - and it's too warm here for a winter compared to Qatar! Ha ha you are rubbing it in now. I am well jel ;)