The northwest monsoon has begun across the southern atolls of Maldives with the effects of the season expected to reach the central region shortly after, according to MET. The office predicts the rainy season to reach the entire country before the end of May.
This year's northwest monsoon locally referred to as 'Hulhan'gu Moosun' which brings heavy rainfall and strong gusts of wind has begun in the southern region of Maldives yesterday.
A statement released by the Maldives Meteorological Services (MET) revealed that the southwest monsoon, which brings clear skies and lower humidity, locally referred to as 'Iruvai Moosun' lasts through January to the end of March while the northwest monsoon begins around May and ends in November according to the Gregorian calendar.
The MET Office stated that the effects of the rainy season will be observed amid the first or second week of May for the southern region of the country. The northwest monsoon will then subsequently reach the atolls in central Maldives and will be in effect across the entire country before the end of May, according to MET.
"This year's rainy season was begun across the southern atolls on the 9th of May," read the statement.
There are two standards that are assessed when verifying the beginning of the rainy season. That is the amount of rain and the direction of wind.
- The atolls in the southern region of Maldives experiencing 2.5 millimeters of rain or higher since the first day of May and rainfall continuing in that state for the subsequent two days.
- Observing the direction of wind within the southern and central region of Maldives and the speed of wind hitting 10 nautical miles per hour with this state resuming for the subsequent two days.
The MET Office had warned this week that some parts of the country are predicted to experience unusually heavy downpours of rain during the rainy season this year.
A press statement released by the institution earlier this week stated that northern and central regions of Maldives are expected to encounter heavier rainfall than their usual downpours during the upcoming months of July, August and September.
The MET Office further anticipates that the maximum rise and lowest fall of temperature across all regions of the country will observe a surge from the general level during this period as well.
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