Scattered showers predicted across central atolls this weekend
Due to the heavy rainfall, some islands have been experiencing flooding
Flooding in Male' City due to heavy rain
Central atolls are expected to experience scattered showers this weekend, says the Maldives Meteorological Service (MMS).
The department revealed that it will be overcast across some islands of northern atolls on Friday. On Saturday, some islands in northern atolls will experience scattered showers according to MMS.
Scattered rain showers have been predicted to prevail across islands of central atolls over the course of the weekend.
Islands across the south of Maldives will experience generally fine weather on Friday. On Saturday, it will be slightly cloudy in the south.
The department revealed that scattered rain with a few heavy showers and thunderstorms were experienced in central and northern atolls over the past few hours. A few showers were also experienced across the south.
MMS revealed that winds were southeast to southerly in southern atolls and southwest to westerly elsewhere at 8 – 18 miles per hour, gusting at 35 miles per hour during showers.
MMS went on to reveal that seas were moderate becoming rough during showers with a wave height of 3 – 6 feet.
The department also urged caution from those residing in central and northern atolls due to heavy rainfall.
Due to the heavy rainfall, some islands have been experiencing flooding as well. As such, from 8am September 6 to 8am September 7, the rainfall accumulated in Rakeedhoo island of Vaavu atoll was at 80.6 millimeters. Maamigili island of Alif Dhaal atoll accumulated a total of 40 millimeters of rain during the period with Nilandhoo island of Faafu atoll having recorded 51.8 millimeters of rain and Bilehdhoo island of Faafu atoll accumulating 29.1 millimeters of rain.
In addition to this, some other islands including Funadhoo island of Shaviyani atoll accumulated 7.1 millimeters of rain, 16 millimeters in Dharavandhoo island of Baa atoll, 18 millimeters in Kaashidhoo island of Kaafu atoll, 11.6 millimeters in Goidhoo island of Baa atoll and 14.9 millimeters in Thoddoo island of Alif Alif atoll.
A white alert was issued by the department in the early hours of Thursday, due to heavy rain and thunderstorms across the regions spanning Kaafu to Thaa atolls.
Although tides were recorded as high as 1.8 feet in the early hours of Thursday, it dropped as low as 1.7 feet after noon, in the northern atolls. It will remain at 1.7 feet by Friday morning and drop as low as 0.1 feet by the end of the day.
Central atolls experienced tides rising as high as 1.8 feet on Thursday morning, dropping to 1.0 feet later in the afternoon and ascending to 1.6 feet by evening, and is expected to drop to 1.5 feet on Friday morning.
The department revealed that southern atolls will experience tides dropping from two feet to 0.5 feet by the end of Thursday and ascending to 1.7 feet by Friday morning before dropping to 1.6 feet in the evening.
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.
Such adverse weather conditions have caused trees to uproot, roofs to be torn off, and heavy debris falling onto houses, causing immense damage. The squally weather during monsoon also causes extensive 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.
