Heavy rain showers and strong winds are expected to prevail across the Maldives this weekend.
The Maldives Meteorological Service (MMS) revealed that heavy rain showers and strong winds tore through the entirety of Maldives, on Friday.
Adverse weather conditions will continue to prevail nationwide in the next few days, with strong winds expected to tear through all parts of the country on Saturday as well
Due to the squally weather, the department has been issuing a number of alerts, both white and yellow over the past couple of days.
A white alert was issued for strong winds of 19 – 24 miles per hour with rough seas, over the country. It was extended through 02:30pm after strong winds of 22 – 27 miles per hour and rough seas were predicted.
A yellow alert was issued on Friday afternoon from Lhaviyani atoll to southernmost Addu City as well, after strong winds of 25 – 30 miles per hour and gusts of 45 miles per hour with very rough seas, were predicted.
Another white alert is effective until sundown, across the entire nation.
Between 8am Thursday to 8am Friday some islands experienced flooding due to heavy rainfall.
Statistics by the department revealed that Makunudhoo island in Haa Dhaal atoll experienced 27.1 millimeters of rainfall, Hithadhoo district of southernmost Addu City experienced 24.4 millimeters of rainfall, Funadhoo island in Shaviyani atoll experienced 21.8 millimeters of rainfall and Gan district of Addu experienced 20.2 millimeters of rainfall.
Further, Kaadehdhdoo island in Gaaf Dhaal atoll experienced 15.5 millimeters of rainfall, Dharavandhoo island in Baa atoll experienced 15.5 millimeters of rainfall, Hanimaadhoo island in Haa Dhaal atoll experienced 13.2 millimeters of rainfall and Alifushi island in Raa atoll experienced 11 millimeters of rainfall.
Although tides were recorded as low as one foot in the early hours of Friday, they rose to 1.4 in the morning and rose further to 2.2 feet by afternoon in the northern atolls.
It will drop as low as 0.8 by early Saturday and rise to 1.7 feet on Saturday morning, before dropping to 1.3 by afternoon and rising to 2.1 by nightfall.
Central atolls experienced tides dropping as low as 0.9 in the early hours of Friday, rising to 1.4 by morning and dropping to 1.1 by afternoon, and is expected to drop to 0.7 after nightfall. Tides will rise to 1.7 feet on Saturday morning and drop to one by Saturday evening, before rising to 1.8 by nightfall.
The department revealed that southern atolls will experience tides rising from one to two by the end of Friday and ascending to two feet by Saturday morning before rising further to 2.2 after nightfall.
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.
