Met Office Confirms Delay in Northeastern Monsoon Onset

The Maldives Meteorological Service (Met Office) has reported a delay in the onset of the Northeastern Monsoon this year. 

While weather & sea conditions are expected to improve gradually over the next 48 hrs, rainfall is still expected in north-central Maldives today.

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— Maldives Meteorology (@MetMaldives) January 4, 2025

In a social media update, the Met Office highlighted that while the monsoon typically begins in the northern and central regions during the second or third week of December, this year’s start deviated from the usual pattern.

While each years Northeast Monsoon falls into late December,

The arrival of Northeast Monsoon 2024 took its time, with onset delayed into 2nd January 2025. pic.twitter.com/cKViobatWn— Maldives Meteorology (@MetMaldives) January 3, 2025

The Northeastern Monsoon, which usually extends across the country by January, officially commenced on 2 January 2025, according to the Met Office.

The declaration of the monsoon’s onset is determined by a shift in wind direction to the east, accompanied by gusts reaching speeds of 10 nautical miles. The Met Office added that the current weather patterns observed across the Maldives are expected to continue over the next two days.

While weather and sea conditions are expected to improve gradually over the next 48 hours, rainfall is still anticipated in the north-central Maldives today.

For daily 12-hourly weather forecasts, alerts, and other updates, the public is encouraged to follow the Met Office’s Viber community group.