Urgent – Marine Weather Message – Small Craft Advisory goes into effect late Tuesday until Wednesday for mainly open waters on the Atlantic side of Montserrat out to 20 nautical miles.

According to a Small Craft Advisory issued by Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services, inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels should avoid navigating in these conditions.

Synopsis: A combination of wind waves and wind swells is expected to cause hazardous seas, especially on the Atlantic sides of the islands. The threat level to the life, livelihood, property and infrastructure of mariners is to rise to moderate with the potential for significant impacts. A small craft advisory means that wind speeds of 21 to 33 knots and or wind waves and or wind swells of 7 feet or greater are occurring or imminent.

Winds Over Open Waters: East-southeast at 24 to 37 km/h (13 to 20 knots; 15 to 23 mph), with strong gusts to 57 km/h (31 knots; 36 mph).

Seas (significant wave heights): 1.5 to 2.4 metres (5 to 8 feet), occasionally or locally reaching near 3 metres (10 feet). Wind waves and or wind swells of 1.5 to 2.4 metres or 5 to 8 feet and occasionally higher. The dominant wind-wave period is 6 to 9 seconds. Seas will peak on Wednesday.

Potential Impacts: Loss of life at sea; injuries to mariners; capsize or damage or loss of vessels and marine equipment; financial losses; disruption of fisheries and scarcity of fish products and disruption to marine transportation.

Forecaster: Dale Destin

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