Met Office: Weather conditions to improve starting Thursday

The Maldives Meteorological Service (Met Office), on Monday, stated that weather conditions across the country are expected to improve from Thursday.

Widespread heavy rainfall has affected various parts of the Maldives since last week. In anticipation of further heavy rain and possible flooding, the Met Office had previously issued Orange Alerts for several areas.

Responding to an inquiry from Sun about the weather forecast leading up to the upcoming weekend, the Met Office stated that unsettled weather conditions are expected to persist over the next two days.

However, the office confirmed that skies are expected to begin clearing starting Thursday, with a significant improvement in weather conditions forecast thereafter. 

According to the daily forecast valid until 18:00pm, rain is expected in various parts of the Maldives, with scattered thunderstorms likely in some areas.

Wind speeds in the southern atolls are expected to range between 7 and 17 mph from the southwest and west. In other parts of the country, winds are forecast to be stronger, ranging from 13 to 20 mph, with gusts of up to approximately 40 mph during showers. 

Regarding sea conditions, the Met Office stated that seas are expected to be rough in the central and northern atolls, while seas in the south are expected to remain moderate but could become rough during showers. Wave heights are forecast to reach up to six feet in the north and central regions and five feet in the south.

As such, the Met Office has urged seafarers to exercise caution and remain vigilant about prevailing weather conditions.

Amidst poor weather conditions forecast for the next two days, records show that N. Maafaru recorded the highest rainfall over the past 24 hours, receiving 62.1 mm. The second-highest rainfall was recorded in R. Ifuru, which received 42.5 mm.

The Met Office continues to urge citizens and travelers to stay updated on weather developments and observe necessary safety precautions.