The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued an advisory, alerting residents to brace for severe weather conditions anticipated to sweep across most of the country over the next five days. This advisory follows a similar alert from the Maldives Meteorological Service (Met Service), which forecasts the onset of harsh weather conditions from the evening of 16 May and persisting for the following five days.
The NDMA’s advisory highlights the potential for wind gusts of a magnitude that could compromise the structural integrity of home roofs. In anticipation of this, the authority advises residents to fortify their roofs with ropes if there is an assessed risk of wind damage and to secure other household items vulnerable to strong gusts.
With the Met Service predicting substantial rainfall across most parts of the country, the disaster management agency urges residents to prepare for possible flooding. The advisory recommends using sandbags to create barriers against floodwaters and suggests relocating items susceptible to water damage to higher ground as a precautionary measure.
In anticipation of potential thunderstorms, the NDMA advises residents to power down electronic devices when not in use as a precaution against electrical damage.
The Met Office, in its advisory, anticipates the rainy season will trigger heavy rainfall across most parts of the country starting Thursday, which is expected to persist for the next five days. It warns of high winds across all parts of the country, accompanied by rough seas and substantial rainfall.
In a media briefing, the Met Office forecasts wind gusts to exceed 15 to 25 miles per hour, intensifying to 45 to 50 miles per hour during showers. It also cautions that some islands could experience tidal surges during high tide.
The Met Office advises seafarers to exercise extreme caution due to rough seas forecast over the next five days and urges all residents to take precautionary measures.