Southwest monsoon commences across Maldives

This year's Southwest (Hulhan'gu) monsoon has now commenced across the country.

In a statement issued by the MET Office, they said that this year, Southwest monsoon commenced in the southern atolls on May 7. Central atolls saw the start of the Southwest monsoon on May 12.

Northern islands experienced the beginning of South West monsoon last Wednesday, May 21, the office said.

Usually, signs of the approach of Southwest monsoon can be observed in the southern atolls in the first or second week of May. This then spreads to the central atolls, and to the rest of the country by month end.

Last year, the Southern atolls saw the start of the Southwest monsoon on May 9. Central atolls experienced this on May 14, with the northern atolls seeing the start of Southwest monsoon by May 17.

This year, Southwest monsoon has commenced across Maldives four days later than last year.

The commencement of the Southwest monsoon is decided upon based on two factors: rainfall and wind direction.

Southwest monsoon has commenced when after the first day of May, southern atolls record 2.5 mm or higher rainfall for two or more consecutive days. Wind directions are from west to southwest at a minimum of 10 nautical miles per hour, with these conditions persisting over at least two consecutive days.

The Northeast monsoon, too, came later than usual this year. Although it usually starts before the end of December, this year saw the date pushed to January 2. In 2023, Northeast monsoon commenced on December 24, and on December 31 in 2022.

Northeast monsoon generally lasts January through March, with Southwest monsoon observed from May to November. April and December sees monsoon changes.