Meteorology

A meteorological service was established in Maldives in the early 1940s. It was first started with only a maximum and minimum thermometer, a rain gauge and an anemometer. The observations were done at a few times daily and the data was supplied to only a few parties. After 1974, Met office adapted to the international standard, SYNOP reports were d... one twice a day and the METAR reports were done from 5 am to 8 pm in addition with one upper air observation. The sea area forecasts and the route forecasts were prepared by the Colombo Observatory and sent to the Meteorological Centre via a SSB radio transceiver. Working under different offices of the government throughout the years, meteorological office became Maldives Meteorological Service (MMS) in 2009. Today, MMS is responsible for the seismological and meteorological services in Maldives. There are 5 Meteorological offices under MMS, the station in Hulhule being the main office. Aviation and synoptic observations done in the other four stations are sent to the Hulhule station on their respective time via email or fax. Each of these stations are now working on 24/7. In addition to these stations, there are 20 automated weather stations and 3 tide gauges installed across the country which provides real time data to MMS. Maldives joined World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) on the 1st of June 1980 and as per the WMO practice, MMS station in Hulhule is designated as the national meteorological center of the Maldives meteorological network. With the establishment of Department of Meteorology on the 1st of August 1980, this station has been functioning 24/7. Daily weather forecasts, aviation forecasts, weather warnings and marine forecasts are issued from Maldives Meteorological Service. MMS is also responsible for the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami alerts/warnings for Maldives. For the real time tide monitoring, a tide gauge is installed in Hulhule, collaboration with the Hawaii University, USA. H. Dh. Hanimaadhoo Meteorological Office was opened on 27th ...Read More