Weather clears up enough for travel, swimming

The weather has cleared up enough to allow travel and swimming, according to the Maldives Meteorological Service.

The statement on Saturday comes after two people drowned this week, as Maldives experienced intense monsoon rains and strong winds, triggering waves of up to 10 feet.

The weather agency had issued orange alerts for three days straight, before downgrading it to yellow, and then to white, on Friday night.

A spokesperson from the agency told Sun on Saturday that the winds have weakened, and the seas are calmer than before.

The weather has cleared up enough for travel and other activities at sea, said the spokesperson.

However, as the Hulhangu Monsoon continues, scattered showers with a few heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected across the country over the next 24 hours, especially in the northern and central regions.

Winds are expected to blow in the southwest/westerly direction at 15 – 25 miles per hour in northern and central areas, and in the southwesterly direction at 10-20 miles per hour in the south.

Winds may gust up to 40 – 50 miles per hour during showers.

Seas are expected to be rough, with waves of 5-8 feet in northern and central areas, and 3-6 feet in the south.

Last week, the police urged the public against all non-essential travel, as well as picnics in uninhabited islands and going swimming.

Two people died in drownings. The first was a resort worker who died saving a tourist from drowning at Centara Grande in ADh. Atoll on Thursday, and the second was a 67-year-old tourist who drowned while snorkeling in a resort in K. Atoll on Friday.