Flows In The Indian Ocean Next To The South Are Not Just OK

Photo by Marshall Team on Unsplash

JAKARTA - BMKG predicts very high waves ranging from 4-6 meters to potential occur in the Indian Ocean south of West Java, Central Java, and the Special Region of Yogyakarta.

"Meanwhile, the wave height in the southern waters of West Java, Central Java, and DIY is predicted to be around 2.5-4 meters or in the high category," said Head of the BMKG Technician Group at the Tunggul Wulung Meteorological Station in Cilacap, Teguh Wardoyo, as reported by Anatar, Wednesday, December 28.

The increase in wave height was triggered by a wind movement pattern that tends to be in a direction with high speed.

In this case, the wind pattern in the southern part of Indonesia is dominantly moving from southwest to northwest with wind speeds ranging from 5-30 knots.

"Regarding this condition, BMKG Tunggul Wulung Cilacap Meteorological Station has again issued a high-wave early warning which is valid for December 28-29, 2022, and will be updated if there are further developments," he explained.

Teguh said areas with the potential for very high waves include the Indian Ocean south of Cianjur, the Indian Ocean south of Garut, the Indian Ocean south of Tasikmalaya, the Indian Ocean south of Pangandaran, the Indian Ocean south of Cilacap, the Indian Ocean south of Kebumen, the Indian Ocean south of Purworejo, and the Indian Ocean south of Yogyakarta.

Meanwhile, areas that have the potential for high waves include southern Cianjur waters, southern waters of Garut, southern waters of Tasikmalaya, southern waters of Pangandaran, southern waters of Cilacap, southern waters of Kebumen, southern waters of Purworejo, and southern waters of Yogyakarta.

Therefore, he said, his party appealed to all marine service users to pay attention to the high risk of waves and wind speeds for shipping safety.

"Moreover, the westerly wind season is currently taking place, so high waves to very high have the potential to occur in the southern waters of West Java-DIY and the Indian Ocean south of West Java-DIY," he said.

Regarding the high risk of waves to shipping safety, Teguh said based on analysis, wind speed is more than 15 knots and wave height above 1.25 meters is at risk for fishing boats.

Furthermore, wind speeds of more than 16 knots and wave heights above 1.5 meters are at risk of barges, wind speeds of more than 21 knots and wave heights above 2.5 meters at risk of ferries, as well as wind speeds of more than 27 knots and wave heights above 4 meters at risk for large ships such as cargo ships and cruise ships.

"We also urge people who take advantage of the momentum of year-end holidays by traveling on the southern coast of West Java-DIY not to swim or play in the water, especially in coastal areas that are directly connected to the high seas, because high waves can come at any time," said Teguh.