Dhiffushi breaks Maldives’ rainfall record with 296mm

The island of Dhiffushi in K. Atoll saw over 296 millimeters of rainfall on Saturday – setting a new record for the heaviest daily rainfall in an island.

The record rainfall came as torrential rain and thunderstorms caused extensive flooding in multiple islands on Saturday, including the capital Male’.

The Maldives Meteorological Service said on Monday that Dhiffushi’s automatic weather station recorded 296.1 millimeters of rainfall over the last 24 hours. It makes it a new record for heaviest daily rainfall – a record previously held by HA. Kelaa.

Top 5 highest accumulated rainfall records:

• K. Dhiffushi: 296.1mm on March 2, 2025
• HA. Kelaa: 231.5mm on August 12, 2024
• K. Male’: 228.9mm on December 5, 2018
• S. Gan: 228.4mm on November 24, 2015
• GDh. Kaadedhdhoo: 219.8mm on July 9, 2002

The 24 hours are counted from 08:00 hours to 08:00 hours.

Meanwhile, the heaviest rainfall on Saturday was recorded in:

• K. Dhiffushi: 296.1mm
• Hulhumale’: 185.2mm
• F. Nilandhoo: 178.2mm
• Hulhule’: 177.2mm
• B. Goidhoo: 166.3mm

Hours-long torrential rain on Saturday caused severe flooding in Male’ and several other islands in central Maldives. 40 people in four homes in Male’ were moved to temporary shelters after flooding caused sewers to overflow.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has declared Sunday a public holiday with the bad weather conditions expected to prevail until at least Monday.