Met Office issues yellow alert for southern Maldives

Maldives Meteorological Service, on Sunday, issued yellow alert for islands from G. A. Atoll to Addu City.

The yellow alert is effective from 1:20 pm to 4:30 pm.

Maldives Meteorological Service forecasts average strong winds of 25-30 miles per hour with gusts of up to 50 miles per hour over the area.

The service has also renewed a white alert issued for islands from Sh. Atoll to Dh. Atoll with the warning of average strong winds of 19-24 miles per hour with gusts of up to 45 miles per hour.

The renewed white alert is effective from 2:30 pm to 7 pm.

Maldives Meteorological Service has attributed the current spell of bad weather affecting Maldives to the beginning of the Hulhangu (South West) Monsoon, worsened by the formation of Cyclone Amphan in the Bay of Bengal.

The service forecasts scattered rain with squally showers and thunderstorms across Maldives.

Winds will be from west/northwesterly at 15 – 25 miles per hour. Winds may increase between 50 - 60 miles per hour during squally showers.

Seas are expected to be generally rough throughout the country.

Maldives Meteorological Service has also warned that some islands may experience wave surges, and has advised the public to be cautious.