Less than three hours' play was possible before strong winds brought a suspension of play at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy in Doha.
That was long enough, however, for Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño to lose the lead he held with his opening six under par 66.
The 31 year old from Madrid, resuming on the back nine, bogeyed the 13th and 14th to slip back to four under.
American John Daly was back in front as a result without hitting a shot. He was among the later starters in the second round.
Fernandez-Castaño was alongside Australian Jason Day and Korean K J Choi in second place. Choi had yet to tee off again, but Day's six pars before the stoppage meant he was still to drop a shot in the tournament.
Lee Westwood's day began well with a birdie on the 11th, but he double-bogeyed the next and when he ran up a five on the 410 yard 14th he was one over and only joint 48th.
Despite the conditions Ireland's Damien McGrane went to the turn in a five under 31, although, having started with a 78, he was still only one over.
But four birdies in six holes by South African Branden Grace, twice a winner already this season, lifted him into a tie for 15th on one under.
Officials were close to deciding on a 12.15pm (9.15am GMT) restart, but then the gusts went up towards 35mph again and that was too much to keep balls still on the greens.
Four hours had been lost already and as the long wait to get going again continued it raised the possibility of the tournament either being cut to 54 holes or being extended to Monday.
Many of the players are also entered for the Omega Dubai Desert Classic next week, but American Hunter Mahan - one over par after six holes of his second round - is heading back to California for the Pebble Beach Pro-am.
