Heavy showers set to drench Maldives this weekend
Seas will be moderate becoming rough during showers
A rainy day in the Maldives (file photo)
Heavy rain showers have been expected in some parts of the Maldives this weekend.
Maldives Meteorological Service revealed that islands in northern, central and southern atolls will experience heavy rain showers on Friday.
However, only some islands in northern, central and southern atolls will experience rainfall on Saturday.
According to MMS, scattered rain with a few heavy showers and thunderstorms would be experienced in central and northern atolls on Friday, with a few isolated showers likely in southern atolls.
Winds will be northwest to northerly in southern atolls and northeast to easterly elsewhere at 8 – 18 miles per hour, gusting at 40 miles per hour during showers.
The department went on to reveal that seas will be moderate becoming rough during showers with a wave height of 3 – 6 feet.
MMS has urged all, especially travelers, to be cautious of the adverse weather conditions.
Between 8am Thursday and 8am Friday, Kaashidhoo island of Kaafu atoll experienced 52.2 millimeters of rainfall. 30.6 millimeters of rainfall were experienced in Gaafaru island of Kaafu atoll. Further, Maafaru island of Noonu atoll experienced 27.3 millimeters of rainfall and Thoddoo island of Alif Alif atoll experienced 27.1 millimeters of rainfall.
Due to the heavy rainfall, some islands in the Maldives have been experiencing flooding as well.
Although tides were recorded as high as 2.2 feet in the early hours of Friday, it dropped to 0.3 by afternoon and will drop to 2.3 by nightfall in northern atolls. It will rise to 2.6 feet by Saturday’s end.
Central atolls experienced tides rising as high as 1.4 in the early hours of Friday, dropping to 1.6 by morning and declining further to 0.3 in the afternoon. It will rise to 1.8 by nightfall. Tides in central atolls will rise to two feet by the end of Saturday.
The department revealed that southern atolls will experience tides rising from 1.3 to 1.8 by the end of Friday and dropping to 1.2 feet by early Saturday and dropping further to 0.3 by sundown on Saturday.
Due to the adverse weather conditions, the department has been issuing a number of white alerts nationwide. As such, a white alert was issued on Friday morning from Haa Alif atoll to Kaafu atoll, with heavy rain and thunderstorms and gusts of 40 miles per hour expected across the region. Another white alert was issued for Friday afternoon for heavy rain and thunderstorms from Haa Alif atoll to Noonu atoll.
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.
