Maldives Meteorological Service (Met Office) has issued a white alert for the central and southern atolls.

The alert is valid until 6:00 pm on Monday (today).

Met Office said heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected in the region, with wind gusts of 40 mph.

The forecast from Monday morning to Tuesday morning show scattered rain with occasional heavy showers and thunderstorms in parts of the central and southern atolls.

Met Office said surface winds will vary between north-east and easterly at 10 to 20 miles per hour in northern and central atolls, light and variable becoming north-west and northerly 3 to 13 miles per hour in southern atolls.

Winds may gust at 40 miles per hour during showers.

Seas would be slight to moderate in southern atolls, and moderate to rough in other regions, said Met Office.