Bad weather expected for next two days

Male city experienced ankle-height floods on December 11, 2019 | Photo: Sun File Photo/Fayaz Moosa

Male’, Maldives – Maldives Meteorological Services (MET) has revealed that bad weather is expected for the majority part of the Maldives during the upcoming two days.

MET explained that many stormy clouds are forming above the atolls of the country due to a low pressure trough being formed near the country. The northern and central atolls of the country are forecasted to be affected by this, with heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas.

Winds are expected from South West and West generally between 15 to 25 miles per hour. However, the MET warns that winds may catch on speed and go up as high as 50 miles per hour at times.

Those who are traveling by sea are urged to take all necessary safety precautions during while out at sea and to contact Coast Guard services at 191 in case of any emergency.

Maldives is currently experiencing the rainy monsoon season of Hulhan’gu, also known as the South West Monsoon, which is expected to last until mid December. According to the traditional Nakaiy system, which is a weather calendar comprising of a series of thirteen or fourteen day intervals, each which used to be a predictable weather pattern, currently Maldives is going through the Hitha Nakaiy during which light winds and isolated showers may be expected.

While the  system has become less reliable over the years due to the increasing changed to the climate, the system is still used by the locals to predict weather.