Due to strong winds and rough seas in central Maldives, the Maldives Meteorological Office (MET) has extended the Yellow Alert that was issued earlier this morning to 3:00pm.

The MET office forecast estimated that there would be heavy rain today, with them having issued a Yellow Alert this morning from 6:30am to 10:30am from Noonu Atoll until Alif Dhaalu Atoll. They also issued a white alert from 11:00am to 5:00pm from Haa Alif Atoll to Vaavu Atoll due to strong winds and rough waters.

The MET office just recently issued a Yellow Alert up until 3:00pm from Baa Atoll to Alif Alif Atoll due to wind speeds reaching between 25 miles per hour and 30 miles per hour, gusts reaching 45 miles per hour with rough seas in the area.

Many people would travel to other islands as Eid is approaching, with the public holiday starting from Sunday, with Maldives currently experiencing rough waters.

The MET office has requested everyone to check the latest weather forecasts before traveling as the seas may get rough.

According to the Maldives Nakaiy-Monsoon calendar, today is the fourth Nakaiy in the Southwest Monsoon (Hulhangu), named the day of Roanu. This time period is also famous among Maldivians where rainfall in June and July begins. Winds pick and ocean currents become stronger during the Southwest Monsoon.

According to the MET offices standard procedure, the Southwest Monsoon in the southern atolls of Maldives began on 8th May. When the Southwest Monsoon begins, wind speeds tend to pick up, seas become more rough and rainfall occurs from time to time all over Maldives.

The effects of the monsoon usually start in the first or second week of May in the southern atolls. It then reaches central Maldives, with the entire nation experiencing the monsoon before May ends.

Last year, Maldives as a whole began experiencing the Southwest Monsoon on 26th May.