Seafarers urged to be cautious due to adverse weather conditions
Rough seas are expected throughout northern and central atolls
Rough seas are expected in northern and central atolls
The Maldives Meteorological Service (MMS) has urged caution from seafarers due to squally weather conditions.
The department revealed that swell wave surges are expected across some islands in northern and central atolls, due to the adverse weather conditions prevailing across the entire country.
MMS revealed that scattered rain with isolated heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected over the country in the next few hours and that winds will be southwest to westerly at 13 – 23 miles per hour in northern and central atolls, south to southwesterly at 10 – 20 miles per hour southern atolls.
Throughout the next few hours, seas are expected to be rough in northern and central atolls and moderate becoming rough during showers in the south with a wave height of 4 – 7 feet in northern and central atolls and 3 – 6 feet in the south.
With this, everyone, particularly seafarers are advised to be cautious, especially as wave surges are possible in northern and central atolls during high tides.
The Maldives Meteorological Service (MMS) has been issuing a number of white and yellow alerts across the country due to the adverse weather conditions, over the past two days.
As such, the most recent white alert was issued from Haa Alif atoll to Alif Dhaal atoll in the early hours of Wednesday. The white alert was issued for strong winds of 19 – 24 miles per hour and gusts of 40 miles per hour and rough seas.
This year’s southwest monsoon commenced at the beginning of May.
Of the two seasons experienced across the archipelago nation, the northeast monsoon is experienced between January and March, with southwest monsoon falling between May and November. Maldives experiences heavy rain showers and adverse weather conditions during the southwest monsoon as well as the northeast monsoon. Extensive periods of strong winds and adverse weather conditions are usually experienced mostly during the southwest monsoon.
As the weather remains unpredictable, authorities have advised the public to be cautious considering the adverse conditions of the southwest monsoon experienced in some regions.
Adverse weather conditions experienced across some regions have been causing trees to uproot, roofs to tear off homes and trees as well as debris falling onto houses over the years. The squally weather during monsoon also causes damage to crop in some islands and presents challenges for seafarers and fishermen as well. Some islands have been experiencing swell waves surges during high tides as well. Regions across the entire island nation also experience ankle-deep flooding due to heavy rainfall.
