January 22-23, BMKG Asks Coastal Citizens To Be Alert Following The 4m High Wave Potential

Photo Archives. Waves hit the coastal area of North Gorontalo. (ANTARA)

Head of the Maritime Meteorology Center of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Eko Prasetyo appealed to residents living or doing activities in coastal areas to be aware of the potential for waves to appear as high as four meters. High waves have the potential to occur in several Indonesian waters from January 22 to 23, 2023. During that period the dominant wind moved from north to northeast at a speed of 8-20 knots in the northern part of Indonesia and was dominantly moving from the southwest-northwest at a speed of 6-25 knots in the southern part of Indonesia. "The highest wind speed was observed in the waters of the Sangihe Islands, the eastern Sulawesi Sea, the waters of the Agats Islands, the eastern Arafuru Sea," he said in Jakarta, Antara, January 22. According to him, this condition has the potential to cause waves as high as 1.25 to 2.5 meters in the northern Malacca Strait, northern Sabang waters, western Aceh waters, western waters of Simeulue Island-Mentawai Islands, Bengkulu waters, western Lampung waters, western Indian Ocean Sumatra, western and southern part of the Sunda Strait, southern waters of Banten-Sumbawa, southern Bali-Lombok-Alas Strait, and southern waters of Sumba Island. Similar conditions also have the potential to occur in the southern Indian Ocean of Banten-East Nusa Tenggara, southern waters of the Anambas Islands-Natuna Islands, Natuna Sea, waters of the Thousand Islands, western Java Sea, central and eastern Sulawesi Sea, southern waters of the Sangihe Islands-Talaud Islands, waters of the Sitaro Islands, waters of Bitung, Maluku Sea, Halmahera waters, Halmahera Sea, Banda Sea, northern waters of West Papua-Papua, northern Pacific Ocean of West Papua-Papua, southern waters of the Kai Islands, waters of the Aru Islands, Amamaperere-Agatats waters, and Arafuru Sea. Meanwhile, the North Natuna Sea, the northern waters of the Anambas Islands- Natuna Islands, the northern waters of the Sangihe Islands-Talaud Islands, and the northern Pacific Ocean Halmahera, are predicted to have a wave height of 2.50 to 4 meters during the period from 22 to 23 January 2023. "Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the high risk to shipping safety," said Eko. He said that fishing boat operators need to be aware of wind speeds of more than 15 knots and wave heights above 1.25 meters and barge operators should be aware of wind speeds of more than 16 knots and wave heights above 1.5 meters. Ferry operators are asked to be aware of wind speeds of more than 21 knots and wave heights above 2.5 meters as well as large ship operators such as cargo ships or cruise ships are advised to be aware of wind speeds of more than 27 knots and wave heights above four meters.