Heavy rain, thunderstorms expected across Maldives this weekend
On Friday, some islands in central atolls will experience scattered rain
Flooding in the capital due to heavy rainfall
Heavy rainfall is expected to prevail across the entire country this weekend, says the Maldives Meteorological Service (MMS).
The department revealed that some islands in northern atolls will experience rain showers on Friday, and heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are expected to prevail across the entire region on Saturday.
On Friday, some islands in central atolls will experience scattered rain, with thunderstorms and heavy rain showers expected across all atolls in the central region on Saturday.
Some islands in southern atolls will experience rain showers on Friday and southern atolls will experience heavy rainfall on Saturday.
Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms prevailed across the country in the early hours of Friday.
Winds were east to southeasterly at 5 – 15 miles per hour in southern atolls and at 3 – 13 miles per hour across the rest of the country.
Seas were slight with a wave height of 2- 4 feet.
Due to the heavy rainfall, some islands have been experiencing flooding as well.
The department revealed that Komandoo island in Shaviyani atoll experienced 23.7 millimeters of rainfall from 8am Wednesday to 8am Thursday.
Hanimaadhoo island of Haa Dhaal atoll accumulated a total of 16.3 millimeters of rain during the period with Goidhoo island of Baa atoll having recorded 14.3 millimeters of rain and Thinadhoo island in Gaaf Dhaal atoll having accumulated 12.6 millimeters of rain.
In addition to this, some other islands including Dharavandhoo island in Baa atoll accumulated 10.5 millimeters of rain Funadhoo island in Shaviyani atoll accumulated 7.6 millimeters of rain, with Alifushi island in Raa atoll accumulating 7.1 millimeters of rain.
Dhiffushi island in Kaafu atoll accumulated 4.4 millimeters of rain within the period.
Although tides were recorded as high as 2.4 feet in the early hours of Friday, they dropped as low as one foot in the morning and will rise to 1.5 feet by afternoon in the northern atolls.
It will drop as low as -0.2 feet later in the day and rise up to 2.2 feet in the early hours of Saturday, before dropping to 1.1 feet by morning and rising further to 1.4 feet by afternoon and dropping lower to 0.1 feet by nightfall.
Central atolls experienced tides rising as high as 2.1 feet in the early hours of Friday, dropping to 0.6 feet by morning and will ascend to 1.4 feet by afternoon, and is expected to drop to -0.1 feet after nightfall. Tides will rise to 1.9 feet in the early hours of Saturday and drop to 0.7 feet by Saturday morning, before rising to 1.2 feet by Saturday afternoon.
The department revealed that southern atolls will experience tides dropping from 2.3 feet to 0.1 feet by the end of Friday and ascending to two feet by Saturday morning before dropping to 0.5 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.
