BMKG: Beware Of Potential High Waves Up To Four Meters In Indonesian Waters, 23-24 April 2023

Illustration of high waves that could potentially appear in Indonesian waters on April 23-24, 2023. (Between)

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has asked the public to be aware of the potential for high waves of up to four meters in several Indonesian waters on 23-24 April 2023.

Head of the Maritime Meteorology Center Eko Prasetyo in Jakarta, Saturday said the wind pattern was one of the causes of opportunities for high wave increase.

He said the wind pattern in the northern part of Indonesia was dominantly moving from northeast-east with wind speeds ranging from 3-15 knots, while in the southern part of Indonesia it was dominantly moving from east-east with wind speeds ranging from 5-25 knots.

"The highest wind speed was observed in the Arafuru Sea," he said, quoted by Antara.

This condition, he continued, causes an increase in waves as high as 1.25-2.5 meters to occur in the northern waters of Sabang, the western waters of Aceh, the western waters of Aceh, the southern waters of P. Sumbawa-P. Sumba, the southern part of the Alas-Sape Strait, the western Sumba Strait, the waters of P. Sawu, the waters of Kupang-P. Rotte, the Savu Sea, the central and eastern Java Sea, the southern part of the Makassar Strait, the western Banda Sea, the waters of Kep. Sermata-Letti, the southern waters of Kep. Kai-Kep. Aru, the waters of P. Biak.

For higher waves in the 2.50-4 meter range, it is likely to occur in the western waters of Simeulue-P. Nias-Kep. Mentawai, Bengkulu-P waters. Enggano, the western waters of Lampung, the West Indian Ocean Sumatra, the southern part of Lampung Bay, the western and southern Sunda Strait, the southern waters of P. Java-P. Sumbawa, the southern part of the Bali-Lombok-Alas Strait, the southern waters of P. Sumba, the South Indian Ocean Java-NTT, the Arafuru Sea, the waters of Kep. Babar-Kep. Tanimbar.

"We ask people who live and work on the coast around areas that have the opportunity for high waves to occur so that they remain vigilant," he said.

For this reason, he asked to pay attention to the high risk to the safety of fishing boats (wind speeds of more than 15 knots and wave heights above 1.25 m), barges (wind speeds of more than 16 knots and wave heights above 1.5m).

Then, ferries (wind speeds of more than 21 knots and wave heights above 2.5 m), large ships such as cargo ships/cruise ships (wind speeds of more than 27 knots and wave heights above four meters).