Due to hazardous seas and strong winds, a small craft advisory has been issued for the Virgin Islands, effective today December 30, 2020, from 8:00am to 8:00pm. Photo: VINO/File

“Fresh winds, due to the expected significant steepening of the pressure gradient, are forecast to cause hazardous seas. The threat level to the life, livelihood, property and infrastructure of mariners will rise to high, and there is the potential for extensive impacts,” a release from the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service noted.

Winds over open waters are forecasted as follows: Northeast at 26 to 40 km/h (14 to 22 knots; 16 to 25 mph), with strong gusts to around 60 km/h (32 knots; 37 mph) and Seas, (significant wave heights): 2 to 2.8 metres (6 to 9 feet), occasionally or locally reaching near 3.5 metres (near 12 feet). Dominant wind wave period is 6 to 9 seconds.

Hazardous wave conditions 

Possible impacts, the advisory cautioned, could include loss of life at sea; injuries to mariners; financial losses; disruption of fisheries and scarcity of fish products and disruption to marine transportation.

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 expected to produce hazardous wave conditions to small crafts.

The met service warned that inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.