Strong winds, heavy rain to prevail nationwide on Saturday

Strong winds and heavy rain showers are expected to prevail across the Maldives on Saturday as well.

The Maldives Meteorological Service (MMS) revealed that on Friday, heavy rain showers prevailed nationwide, across all regions.

Heavy rainfall is predicted to prevail across islands in northern atolls on Saturday as well.

Adverse weather conditions will continue to prevail nationwide in the next few days, with strong winds expected to tear through islands of central and southern atolls on Saturday.

Due to the squally weather, the department has been issuing a number of alerts, both white and yellow over the past couple of days.

The most recent white alert was issued from Haa Alif atoll to Lhaviyani atoll for heavy rain and thunderstorms and will be effective through 10pm, Friday.

Earlier, a white alert was issued for heavy rain and thunderstorms from Raa atoll to southernmost Addu City, effective through 5pm, Friday.

In the early hours of Friday, a yellow alert was issued from Haa Alif atoll to Noonu atoll for torrential rain and thunderstorms with gusts of 40 miles per hour.

Between 8am Thursday to 8pm Friday, Funadhoo island in Shaviyani atoll experienced torrential rain, with the island experiencing 53.9 millimeters of rainfall.

Due to the heavy rainfall, some islands experienced flooding over the past 24 hours as well.

Capital Malé City experienced 30.9 millimeters of rainfall during the same period, Kulhudhuffushi City experienced 23.9 millimeters of rainfall, Kadhdhoo island in Laamu atoll experienced 23.6 millimeters of rainfall, Hulhumalé experienced 9.5 millimeters of rainfall, Gemanafushi island in Gaaf Alif atoll experienced 6.8 millimeters of rainfall and Muli island in Meemu atoll experienced 6.4 millimeters of rainfall.

Further, 5.5 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in Fuvahmulah City, 4.5 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in Hulhulé, 3.8 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in Maafaru island in Noonu atoll, 2.7 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in Nilandhoo island in Faafu atoll, 3.1 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in Gan island of Seenu atoll, 2.1 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in Kaadedhdhoo island in Gaaf Dhaal atoll, two millimeters of rainfall was recorded in Thinadhoo City in Gaaf Dhaal atoll and 0.8 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in Kelaa island in Haa Alif atoll.

Although tides were recorded as high as 2.2 feet in the early hours of Friday, they dropped as low as -0.8 in the morning and rose to 3.1 feet by afternoon in the northern atolls.

It will drop as low as 1.2 by sundown and rise to 2.1 feet in the early hours of Saturday, before dropping to -0.6 by morning and rising further to three feet by afternoon and dropping to 1.2 by nightfall.

Central atolls experienced tides rising as high as 2.1 feet in the early hours of Friday, dropping to -0.6 by morning and ascending to 2.8 by afternoon, and is expected to drop to 0.7 after nightfall. Tides will rise to two feet in the early hours of Saturday and drop to -0.4 by Saturday morning, before rising to 2.7 by Saturday afternoon.

The department revealed that southern atolls will experience tides dropping from 2.6 to 0.5 by the end of Friday and ascending to 2.5 feet by Saturday morning before rising further to 2.9 feet after 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.