Winds and seas to calm after Thursday: Met Office

Maldives Meteorological Service (Met Office) has forecast strong winds and rough seas in the central and southern parts of the country over the next three days.

A Met Office official told Mihaaru News that wind speeds in the central and southern atolls are expected to range between 13 and 23 mph during this period.

According to the Met Office, strong winds and rough seas are expected today between 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm from Noonu atoll to Dhaalu atoll. A white alert has been issued for the area, with winds forecast to reach between 19 and 24 mph.

“White alerts will be issued over the next few days. However, a yellow alert is not expected at this time,” the official said.

Met Office said conditions are expected to gradually calm after Thursday.

Today marks the first day of the third Nakaiy of the Iruvai monsoon "Uthuruhalha". While skies remain mostly clear in the northern atolls, strong winds and rough seas are affecting much of the country.

The Iruvai monsoon began on the 17th of last month, marking the earliest onset of the dry season in the past five years.