MET warns of rough weather as southwest monsoon begins
The agency stated that the Southwest Monsoon reached the southern atolls two days ago.
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The Maldives Meteorological Service (MET Office) has officially announced the start of the Southwest Monsoon, locally known as Hulhangu, in the Maldives.
According to the MET Office, the Maldives experiences two primary monsoon seasons each year: the Northeast Monsoon, known as Iruvai, which generally occurs between January and March, and the Southwest Monsoon, which usually extends from May to November.
The agency stated that the Southwest Monsoon reached the southern atolls two days ago.
The MET Office said the onset of the monsoon is determined based on weather observations recorded at monitoring stations across the southern atolls.
According to the criteria used by the agency:
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at least 60% of weather stations in the southern atolls must record daily rainfall of 2.5 millimetres or more after 1 May;
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at least 60% of weather stations must record wind directions between southwest and west with speeds exceeding 10 nautical miles per hour after 1 May; and
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both conditions must continue for at least two consecutive days.
The MET Office stated that the transition period between the two monsoon seasons generally lasts about one month and is often associated with unsettled weather conditions.
The Southwest Monsoon period is typically linked to increased rainfall and rough sea conditions.
The agency has already issued weather advisories warning that southern and central atolls are expected to experience strong winds, rainfall and rough seas over the next two to three days.
