The Maldives Meteorological Service (MMS) has predicted heavy rainfall and thunderstorms to prevail over some parts of the island nation this weekend.

As such, the department revealed that islands in northern atolls are expected to experience heavy rainfall and thunderstorms on Friday.

Islands across central Maldives will experience heavy rainfall and thunderstorms on Friday as well.

Scattered rain showers have been predicted to prevail across islands of southern atolls on Friday.

However, the weather is expected to clear up across all regions of the country by Saturday.

The department revealed that scattered showers with a few heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected over the entire country in general.

MMS revealed that winds will be southeast to southerly at 5 – 15 miles per hour in southern atolls and southwest to westerly at 10 – 20 miles per hour elsewhere.

Further, winds may gust to 40 miles per hour during showers.

MMS went on to reveal that seas are expected to be moderate in northern and central atolls and slight in the south. Seas will be rough during showers, with a wave height of 2 – 6 feet.

The department went on to advise all, particularly seafarers in northern atolls, to be cautious as wave surges are possible in some islands during high tides.

Due to the adverse weather conditions, the department has been issuing a number of white alerts over the past 24 hours. As such, a white alert was issued from Gaaf Dhaal atoll to Addu City from 1am to 7am on Friday after strong winds of 19 – 24 miles per hour and gusts of 40 miles per hour with rough seas were predicted across the region.

Another white alert was issued from Haa Alif atoll to Lhaviyani atoll from 12:15am to 6am after MMS predicted strong winds of 19 – 24 miles per hour and gusts of 40 miles per hour with rough seas to prevail across the region.

Although tides were recorded as low as -0.1 in the early hours of Friday, it rose to 2.7 in the afternoon and is expected to drop to 0.6 feet in northern atolls, by nightfall on Saturday.

Central atolls will experience tides rising to 2.6 feet on Friday afternoon, decreasing to 0.4 feet later in the evening and 2.5 feet on Saturday afternoon, falling to 0.3 feet at the end of the day.

The department revealed that southern atolls will experience tides rising to 2.9 feet on Friday afternoon, falling to 0.3 feet by sundown and ascending to 2.9 feet by Saturday afternoon. Tides will be as low as 0.3 feet after sundown on Saturday.