Preparations have officially commenced to establish a new meteorological office and install a state-of-the-art S-Band Doppler weather radar at Gan International Airport in Addu City, aimed at significantly bolstering early weather warning systems across the southern Maldives.
According to the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, ongoing preliminary work at the site currently involves comprehensive land-clearing operations on the designated plot, alongside the installation of CCTV security cameras to ensure the perimeter's safety and surveillance.
Once the initial site clearance and security setup are finalized, major civil works for the construction of the new meteorological office and the installation of the advanced radar unit are scheduled to begin shortly.
The newly introduced S-Band Doppler radar will substantially improve meteorological surveillance across the southern region by tracking rainfall patterns and the trajectories of incoming storm systems well in advance. This capability will enable authorities to issue timely weather warnings to local residents while strengthening safety standards for aviation and air travel.
The ministry noted that once the project is completed and operational, it will decentralize national meteorological services, establishing a far more resilient weather data collection infrastructure across the southern atolls.