Only radar system used for collecting weather information out of order

The National Meteorological Centre has said that the Doppler Radar System placed in Hulhule’ for collecting weather information has been out of order now for several days.

Senior Meteorological Forecaster Hussain Waheed said that efforts are under way to repair the radar system, which covers 70 percent of the Maldives’ region.

“This is the only radar we have at the moment. Since it broke down, we have been using satellite photos and weather modules,” he said.

“This equipment is very expensive. A similar radar system was installed in Sri Lanka in this region only recently.”

He said that information collected through the system included the position of rain clouds, and several other information related to weather.

“With the radar system, we could collect weather information from the northern-most point in the Maldives to Huvadhoo Atoll. Even though we can’t use the system now, we are collecting weather information using the equipment we have,” he said.

The radar system was established in Hulhule’ after the tsunami.