MET upgrades yellow alert to orange amid worsening weather

The Maldives Meteorological Service has issued an orange warning for heavy rain and flooding between Kaafu and Vaavu atolls of the country. 

The warning is in effect from 8:50 pm to 10:30 pm on Wednesday.

The MET Office had earlier issued a yellow alert from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, forecasting thunderstorms, heavy rain and winds up to 45 mph in thunderclouds. The alert level was raised to orange, the third tier in the MET warning system, following a rapid intensification of rainfall. An orange warning is typically issued when 90 mm of rain is expected within one hour or 120 mm within six hours.

Heavy rain has already caused flooding in several parts of the capital. MNDF Fire and Rescue teams are deploying pumps in multiple locations across Male' City.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has urged the public to take precautionary measures to reduce damage from the severe weather. Residents have been advised to place sandbags at entry points to prevent water intrusion, move food and belongings to higher ground, secure loose items that may be blown away, switch off unused electrical appliances, and keep essential supplies ready.

Orange warning for torrential rain and possible flood https://t.co/uyL1QCYzpD

— Maldives Meteorology (@MetMaldives) October 21, 2026

According to the MET Office, dense rain clouds are forming over atolls from the west of the Maldives due to the intensification of the western monsoon over the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. The forecast for the next 24 hours indicates mostly cloudy skies with isolated showers, southwest and west winds between 10 and 20 mph, and wave heights between four and seven feet.

Authorities have advised seafarers to exercise caution, noting that seas will remain rough over the next three days, particularly in the northern and central atolls.