Heavy rain expected in central atolls this weekend
Scattered rain showers are expected to prevail across northern and southern atolls
Flooding caused by heavy rain showers
The Maldives Meteorological Service (MMS) has revealed that heavy rainfall is expected in some parts of the Maldives this weekend.
The weather department revealed that heavy rain showers are expected in central atolls on Friday and Saturday.
Further, scattered rain showers are expected to prevail across northern and southern atolls this weekend.
The department went on to report that 22.8 millimeters of rainfall was accumulated in Maafaru island of Noonu atoll between 8am Wednesday and 8am Thursday. 21 millimeters of rainfall was accumulated in Alifushi island of Raa atoll.
The department highlighted that a few showers are expected across central and southern atolls and generally fine weather will prevail across northern atolls on Thursday. Winds will be west to northwesterly at 5 – 15 miles per hour and seas will be slight with a wave height of 2 – 4 feet.
Although tides were recorded as high as 2.4 feet in the early hours of Thursday, it dropped to 1.6 by afternoon and will drop to -0.2 by nightfall in northern atolls.
Central atolls experienced tides rising as high as 2.1 in the early hours of Thursday, dropping to 0.7 by morning and rising to 1.4 in the afternoon. It is expected to drop to -0.1 by nightfall. Tides will rise to 1.9 feet in the early hours of Friday before dropping to 0.2 by the end of the day.
The department revealed that southern atolls will experience tides dropping from 2.4 to 0.1 by the end of Thursday and ascending to 2.1 feet by early Friday and dropping further to 0.5 by the end of the day.
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 wave surges during high tides as well.
