Feels-like temperature soars to sizzling 43°C in Male’ on voting day

The feels-like temperature soared to a sizzling 43 degrees Celsius in the Maldivian capital on Saturday, as people across the country head out to polling stations to vote in local council elections and the women’s development committee elections, as well as a referendum on presidential and parliamentary elections.

The AccuWeather app shows the actual temperature in Male’ at 34 degrees Celsius, with the feels-like temperature much higher, at 43 degrees Celsius.

The temperature in Addu City in the south is 32 degrees Celsius, with the feels-like temperature at 41 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, the temperature in the northern city of Kulhudhuffushi is 31 degrees Celsius, with the feels-like temperature at 39 degrees Celsius.

According to information released by the Elections Commission (EC), 131,946 people voted as of 02:00 pm – making for 44.75 percent of total voter population.

This includes 63,175 women and 68,772 men.

Over 55 percent of eligible voters have yet to cast their ballots.

Polls are set to close at 04:00 pm.

The Maldives generally observes its warmest period from March to April.

The winds tend to weaken during this period, and with clear skies and persistently high humidity, the air temperature becomes more pronounced.

These conditions also reduce the diurnal temperature range, resulting in higher “feels-like” temperature.