Maldives is gearing up for a day of turbulent weather, with the National Meteorological Service (MET) issuing a white alert for 12 atolls. This warning covers areas from Haa Alif Atoll to Lhaviyani Atoll in the north and from Laamu Atoll to Addu City in the south, with adverse conditions expected between 8:30 AM and 2:30 PM today.
According to MET, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are likely, with wind speeds anticipated to surge up to 40 miles per hour within cloud bands. This comes as part of the ongoing northeast monsoon, which began influencing the weather in January and is expected to last through March. The northeast monsoon, one of two distinct seasons in the Maldives, generally brings drier conditions, but this year has been marked by episodes of intense rainfall.
Yesterday, the island of Gdh. Faresmaathodaa bore the brunt of the weather, recording an extraordinary 129.7 millimeters of rain. This heavy rainfall follows a trend observed since the start of the year, where several regions have experienced unusual downpours, causing extensive damage.
Earlier this month, torrential rain flooded most roads in Male’, the capital, causing significant damage to homes. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported losses amounting to 2.2 million Maldivian rufiyaa, marking it as the most severe rainfall-related incident in Male’s history.
While the northeast monsoon typically ushers in cooler, drier weather, the central and southern atolls have been grappling with erratic and heavy rains since late December. Experts point out that the monsoon’s intensity has been influenced by evolving climatic patterns.
Residents in the affected atolls are urged to stay vigilant, avoid unnecessary travel, and secure their properties as MET continues to monitor the situation.
