BMKG Issues 25 Knot Extreme Category Wind Potential Warning in the Bali Sea

The photo archive - A number of visitors enjoy the atmosphere of the waves when the winds are strong and high waves on Purnama Beach, Gianyar Regency, Bali, Sunday (14/5/2023) ANTARA/Dewa Ketut Sudiarta Wiguna

DENPASAR - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Region III issued an early warning regarding the potential increase in wind speeds of up to 25 knots or around 46 kilometers per hour in the Bali Sea on May 20, 2023.

"The extreme category is 25 knots," said Head of BMKG Region III Denpasar Services Sub-Coordinator Tirta Wijaya as reported by ANTARA, Friday, May 19.

The potential wind speed which is expected to blow from the east-southeast is considered to be strong winds, so it is necessary to watch out, especially for the community, including fishermen and marine tourism operators.

Based on BMKG observations, the potential height of sea waves in the Bali Sea or in the North Bali area is estimated to reach up to 2.5 meters from Friday to Saturday (20/5).

Meanwhile, the potential height of sea waves in the North and South Bali Straits, which are the Bali-Java crossing routes, is also estimated to reach up to 2.5 meters.

Then, in the waters of the Badung Strait it is estimated to have a height category of up to four meters, including in the southern part of the Lombok Strait and the Indian Ocean south of Bali with potential wind speeds of up to 20 knots or 37 kilometers per hour.

The Badung Strait is the Sanur-Nusa Penida crossing route, the Bali-Lombok crossing to the Lombok Strait and is a marine tourism area.

The BMKG explained that the weather conditions were caused by sea surface temperatures in the Bali area ranging from 28-30 degrees Celsius.

In addition, the wet air mass is concentrated from the surface layer to a layer of 850 millibars or 1.500 meters.

The BMKG Maritime Meteorology Center stated that wind and sea wave conditions pose a high risk to sailing safety, namely for fishing boats if the wind speed is more than 15 knots and the wave height is above 1.25 meters.

Barges if the wind speed is more than 16 knots and the wave height is above 1.5 meters, ferries if the wind speed is more than 21 knots and the wave height is above 2.5 meters.