Met Office: A month’s worth rainfall in three days highly unlikely

Maldives Meteorological Service (Met Office) states it is highly unlikely that Maldives will see a month’s worth rainfall in three days as claimed in foreign weather reports.

Speaking at a program on PSM, Metrologist Hussain Waheed said significant rainfall was forecasted for various Maldivian regions including capital Male’ City this week in weather reports by foreign media outlets.

He particularly referenced the report by Al Jazeera which forecasted that Maldives will see a month’s worth rainfall in three days of this week, citing it was unclear how the rainfall forecast had been calculated.

“The amount of rainfall in two monsoons is very different when the rainfall pattern in the Maldives is evaluated. January and February which are the driest months in the Iruvai monsoon (northeast monsoon) see approximately 100 millimeters or lesser during the whole month,” he said.

On contrary, Hussain Waheed said approximately 500 to 600 millimeters of rainfall is recorded during the months of Hulhangu monsoon (southwest monsoon). Henceforth, he said it is unclear which season’s one month’s worth of rain is referenced in foreign media outlet’s forecasts.

“However, we do not expect 600 millimeters of rainfall experienced in one month of Hulhangu monsoon in the span of three days. That is a huge number,” he stressed while reiterating that it was highly unlikely for the Maldives to see 600 millimeters of rainfall in the span of three days.

As per the latest statistics by Al Jazeera’s weather reporter, Jeffrey Harrington, Maldives recorded 146.3 millimeters of rain in the past 48 hours, with August’s average rainfall at 192.3 millimeters.  

Heavy torrential pours across the Maldives on Tuesday resulted in significant flooding and property damage. Wednesday was also declared a public holiday over the weather conditions.

There is currently a yellow alert in effect for northern Maldives until 2:00pm for the area from HA. Atoll to ADh. Atoll warning of strong winds and very rough seas.

Met forecasts strong winds of 25-30 miles per hour and gusts of 50 miles per hour with very rough seas.

As per Met, the weather condition is a result of a low-pressure area becoming strong over the Indian Ocean as it travels across the world.