The Maldives Meteorological Service has issued a yellow weather alert for Shaviyani to Alif Dhaal Atolls, warning of torrential rain and thunderstorms.
The alert is in effect from 2 pm to 6 pm today, covering several atolls across the central Maldives.
The warning covers the area from Shaviyani Atoll to Alif Dhaalu Atoll and forecasts torrential rain and thunderstorms, with wind gusts reaching 40 miles per hour during the four-hour alert period.
The alert comes amid a prolonged spell of unsettled weather across the Maldives during the South-west monsoon. Heavy rainfall and strong winds have affected northern and central atolls in recent weeks, with the Meteorological Service previously attributing the conditions to an intensified south-west monsoon system and
The adverse weather has caused flooding in several parts of the country. In October, persistent monsoon rainfall triggered severe flooding across northern islands, prompting the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to deploy emergency response teams for dewatering operations and assistance to affected residents.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has projected a near-certain likelihood of the strengthening El Niño, the naturally occurring warming of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean that influences global climate, persisting through February 2027. The WMO has raised concerns over changing rainfall patterns, food security, water supplies and coral reef health.
The Meteorological Service has advised the public to remain alert to weather updates and take necessary precautions during periods of heavy rain and thunderstorms.
