Storm clouds bring heavy rain and high winds |15 April 2008

There were also high winds, blowing at between 25 and 40 knots and reaching 45 knots (90 kilometres per hour) at the International Airport.

The meteorological office says the unusual weather began in the early hours of yesterday and lasted till late in the afternoon.

A maximum 92 millimetres of rain were recorded at Anse Soleil between midnight and 7am, with winds surging over 100kph in parts of Mahe from 12.30pm onwards.

The high winds lasted three to four hours, says the meteorological office, because of active storm clouds associated with the mass of rain clouds passing over Mahe. This cloud mass moved westwards and was due to leave by last night.

The meteorological office said it had advised people yesterday – after getting many anxious phone calls – not to be troubled by the conditions as they would soon pass.  

The unexpected weather comes after a patch of more than four weeks in which the country has had such a lack of rain that forecasters have been looking towards a possible drought in the months ahead.