White Alert Issued for Heavy Rain Across Northern and Central Maldives

The Maldives Meteorological Service has issued a white alert for heavy rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds from Haa Alifu Atoll to Faafu Atoll, effective until 5:00 PM today. The alert warns of squally conditions with wind speeds up to 40 miles per hour within the squall zone. The weather is expected to deteriorate across the northern and central atolls over the next 24 hours, with gusty winds from the west-southwest at 13 to 23 miles per hour, and up to 40 miles per hour in squalls. Seas in these regions will be rough, with wave heights between 4 and 7 feet. The southern atolls will experience more moderate conditions with winds of 8 to 18 miles per hour and rough seas only near squalls. The Met Office said that while a cyclone formed in the Bay of Bengal will not directly impact the Maldives, it will contribute to rainfall across the country. The weather has been unsettled since Wednesday, and the Met Office continues to issue advisories urging the public to take precautions.