The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Saturday advised people to take precautions against possible flooding as heavy rain lashes central Maldives.
There is currently a yellow weather alert in place for a large part of central Maldives – stretching from Lh. Atoll to V. Atoll.
The weather agency warns the area will experience torrential rain and thunderstorms with gusts of 40 miles per hour, as well as rough seas, up until at least 04:00 pm.
In a post on X in the afternoon, the NDMA said that the Maldives Meteorological Service forecasts that the heavily rainfall over Male’ and the surrounding atolls could result in flooding.
“We advise taking precautions to mitigate damage from flooding due to heavy rain and strong winds,” cautioned the NDMA.
މިއަދު، ބޯކޮށް ވާރޭ ވެހުމާއެކު ވައިގަދަވެ ކަނޑުތައް ގަދަވާނެ ކަމަށް ނިމުތުކޮށް، އެމް.އެމް. އެސް އިން ވަނީ މާލެ އާއި މާލެ ކައިރި އަތޮޅުތަކަށް ރީނދޫ އިންޒާރު ނެރެފައި. އަދި މި ސަރަހައްދަށް ބޯކޮށް ވާރޭ ވެހުމުގެ ސަބަބުން ފެންބޮޑުވުމުގެ ފުރުސަތު އޮތް ކަމަށްވެސް އެމް.އެމް.އެސް…
— NDMA Maldives (@NDMAmv) December 20, 2025
The current spell of bad weather comes with the onset of the Northeast Monsoon, locally known as the Iruvai Monsoon.
The Maldives experiences two distinct seasons: the Southwest or Hulhangu Monsoon, which typically runs from May to November, and the Northeast or Iruvai Monsoon, which usually lasts from January to March.
The impact of the Iruvai Monsoon is initially felt in the northern regions in early December, gradually spreading from the northern atolls to the entire country by January.
This year, the Iruvai Monsoon commenced for the northern region on December 17.
The transitional period as one monsoon ends and the other sets in usually unleashes heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas.
Authorities urge everyone, especially seafarers, to remain vigilant, ensure safety measures are in place, and stay updated on the latest forecasts and alerts.