Wednesday
16th Jul 2025
Dhivehi Edition
National Meteorological center
Tidal Swells in Maldives Increasing Due to Distant Wave Activity, Says MET Office
Male' City effected by tidal swells, Photo: TMJ
The Maldives Meteorological Service (MET) has reported a rising trend in tidal swells across the country, with most swells originating from wave systems outside the Maldives.
Speaking on a program aired by Public Service Media (PSM), Assistant Meteorologist Hussein Waheed from the MET Office explained that tidal swells in the Maldives typically occur in two ways: either due to strong winds and rough seas within the region, or as a result of swells traveling long distances across the Indian Ocean.
“Looking at tidal swell incidents in recent years, swells from distant areas have caused more flooding. Tidal swells occur even on days with calm winds,” Waheed noted.
He emphasized that the MET Office monitors oceanic wave conditions daily to assess the likelihood of tidal swell events. “We collect a lot of information, such as wave height, wave period, and the distance between waves. We check if there are chances of tidal swells,” he said.
Waheed also warned that the possibility of tidal swells remains elevated over the next five days, due to expected rough seas, strong winds, and worsening weather conditions.
Tidal swells have increasingly impacted the low-lying islands of the Maldives, prompting calls for greater coastal resilience and early warning preparedness.