BMKG Reminds Of 4 Meter High Waves In Indonesian Waters Until March 23

High wave illustration (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) appealed to the public to be aware of the potential for high waves up to four meters in several Indonesian waters. "High to four meters of the wave potential occurred in several water areas on March 21-23 2023," said Head of the Maritime Meteorology Center, BMKG, Eko Prasetyo, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, March 21. He said, wind patterns in the northern part of Indonesia are dominantly moving from northeast-east with wind velocities ranging from 5-20 knots, while in the southern part of Indonesia it is dominantly moving from east-east with wind velocities ranging from 3-15 knots. "The highest wind speed was observed in the northern waters of the Sangihe-Talaud Islands and the central Sulawesi Sea," he explained. The condition, said Eko Prasetyo, led to an opportunity for an increase of waves as high as 1.25-2.5 meters in the northern waters of Sabang, the western waters of Aceh-Mentawai Islands, the waters of Bengkulu, the western waters of Lampung, the West Indian Ocean Aceh-Bengkulu, the Sunda Strait western and south, the southern waters of Banten-East Java waters. Similar conditions also have the potential to occur in the southern waters of Bali-Sumbawa, the southern Bali-Lombok Strait, the southern waters of Sumba Island, the southern part of the Savu Strait, the southern part of the Samba Strait, the Southern Indian Ocean, NTB-NTT, the central and eastern part Sulawesi Sea, the waters of the Sangihe Islands Talaud Islands, the waters of the Bitung Islands, the waters of the northern and eastern Maluku Sea. Halmahera, the waters north of West Papua-Papua, the North Pacific Ocean Halmahera-Papua. For waves in the higher range 2.5-4 meters are likely to occur in the Indian Ocean. West Lampung and the South Indian Ocean Banten-Bali. "We are asked for people who live and are active on the coast around areas with high wavelengths to remain alert to remain alert," he said.

The high wave potential can also be at risk for shipping safety, especially for fishermen who are active in transportation modes such as 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 1.5 m). Then, ferries (wind speeds of more than 21 knots and wave heights above 2.5 m), and large ships such as cargo ships/cruise ships (wind speeds of more than 27 knots and wave heights above 4.0 m).