Friday 13 Mar 2026
People wear masks as they walk along a street in Male' City, (Sun Photo/Fayaz Moosa)
The Maldives Meteorological Service projects a gradual dissipation of haze across central and southern atolls over the coming weekend. While recent data for the capital, Male, recorded an Air Quality Index of 62, representing moderate to unhealthy levels for sensitive groups, current atmospheric trends suggest imminent relief. Conversely, northern regions will continue to experience reduced visibility and poor air quality, with forecasts indicating levels as low as 3 to 4 kilometers compared to the 7 to 8 kilometers expected elsewhere. This prolonged period of haze, which has persisted since December, remains an ongoing public health concern during the current monsoon transition.
The haze is expected to clear in central and southern regions of Maldives over the upcoming weekend, while the air quality will remain poor in the north, according to the Maldives Meteorological Service.
Readings on Thursday showed an Air Quality Index (AQI) level of 62 in the central city of Male’, indicating “yellow” or "moderate" to "unhealthy for sensitive groups" air quality. It shows the air quality will improve the next two days in Male’, as well as Addu in the south.
A spokesperson from the Meteorological Service told Sun on Thursday that the air quality will improve in central and southern regions of the country over the upcoming weekend, but will continue to be poor in the north.
The visibility in central and southern regions is around 7 to 8 kilometers, while the visibility in the north will be around 3 to 4 kilometers, forecasts the weather agency.
While haze is common with the onset of the Iruvai Monsoon, it usually lasts only a couple of weeks. But this time around, the Maldives has been battling haze with only brief respites since December, endangering public health.
