A white alert is in effect across some regions of the country, due to adverse weather conditions.
The Maldives Meteorological Service (MMS) issued the white alert for heavy rain and thunderstorms with gusts of 40 miles per hour, at around 7:15pm on Friday.
The white alert, issued from Gaaf Dhaal atoll to southernmost Addu City, is effective through 1am, Saturday.
Another white alert was issued earlier in the evening, after predicting strong winds of 19 – 24 miles per hour with roughs across the regions between Raa atoll and Vaavu atoll.
The white alert will be effective through 11:30pm, Friday.
The department revealed that Maldives will experience scattered showers and a few heavy showers and thunderstorms across the entire country for the next couple of hours.
Winds are expected to be 13 – 23 miles per hour from northeast to easterly in northern and central atolls and 5 – 15 miles per hour northwest to northerly in southern atolls.
The department revealed that winds may pick up to 35 miles per hour during rain showers.
In addition to this, seas are predicted to be rough in northern atolls and central atolls, slight becoming rough during showers in southern atolls with a wave height of 4 – 7 feet in northern and central atolls and 2 – 5 feet in southern atolls.
MMS revealed that some islands in northern and central atolls will experience scattered showers on Saturday.
Islands in southern atolls are expected to experience heavy showers on Saturday.
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.
