High swells are to be experienced in some parts of the country for the next 24 hours, says the Maldives Meteorological Services (MET Office).

An official from the office told RaajjeMV that it is likely that some islands in the north might experience high swells during high tide, due to the heavy rainfall across the nation.

According to MET Office, surface winds will vary between south-west and westerly at 13 to 23 miles per hour, with winds expected to gust at 45 miles per hour during showers.

Seas are expected to be rough over the country, with sea travelers advised 'to take necessary precaution when traveling by sea'.

The severe weather was caused by a depression that formed near Sri Lanka, which later developed into a cyclone, just 200 km away from the capital Colombo. The powerful Cyclone Ockhi has killed at least 16 people across India and Sri Lanka, displacing many.

However, earlier on Friday, the Maldives Embassy in Sri Lanka noted that Cyclone Ockhi was 'moving further away' from Colombo, and that 'its effects on Sri Lanka are expected to lessen gradually'.