MET predicts intense rain clouds to loom over the Maldives

The Maldives Meteorological Service (MET) has predicted “intense rain clouds” to loom over the entirety of the Maldives where heavy rain showers are expected.

The department urged individuals to be cautious of the adverse weather conditions as swell wave surges have also been predicted during high tide times.

Overall, fairly widespread rain shower with isolated showers and thunderstorms are expected over the entire country.

Winds are expected to gust northwest to northerly at 6 – 16 miles per hour in the north and southwest to westerly at 15 – 25 miles per house over the rest of the country.

During showers, winds are expected to gust between 45 – 50 miles per hour.

Further the department has predicted seas to be moderate becoming rough during showers in the north and generally rough elsewhere.

Over the course of the past few hours, MET has issued three alerts over some regions in the Maldives expected to experience squally weather.

As such, a white alert was issued from 01:30am to 07:30am between Vaavu atoll and Gaaf Dhaal atoll, the regions are expected to experience gusty winds of 45 miles per hour.

Another white alert was issued from Haa Alif to Laamu atoll from 05:30am to 11:30am and the department predicted heavy rain and thunderstorms with winds gusting at 45 miles per hour over these regions.

Similarly, a yellow alert was issued from Lhaviyani atoll to Thaa atoll, to be effective between 5am and 8am on Friday. The regions between these atolls are expected to experience average strong winds of 28 – 35 miles per hour with winds gusting at 50 miles per hour.

Most of the country is expected to experience heavy rain showers up until 8pm on Friday.

As the monsoon season is upon the island nation, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has also urged the citizens to practice caution, especially with the wide-spreading Covid-19 virus across the country. Further, citizens have been urged to practice caution against influenza and dengue as well.