Marine Service Users In Yogyakarta Asked To Be Alert To High Waves Of South Waters

Photo Illustration: Antara

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) appealed to all marine service users to be aware of the potential for high waves in the southern waters of Garut to Yogyakarta on 26-27 March 2023.

"Based on the analysis, the wave height in the southern waters of Garut to Yogyakarta on Sunday (March 26), at 19.00 WIB, as of Monday (March 27), at 19.00 WIB, is predicted to reach a range of 2.5-4 meters or be in the high category," said Head of the BMKG Technician Group at the Tunggul Wulung Cilacap Meteorological Station, Teguh Wardoyo, quoted from Antara, Sunday, March 26.

In addition to the southern waters of Garut to Yogyakarta, he said, high waves (2.5-4 meters) also have the potential for the Indian Ocean south of West Java, Central Java, to the Special Region of Yogyakarta.

Meanwhile, in the southern waters of Sukabumi to Cianjur, he continued, the wave height is estimated to be around 1.25-2.5 meters or in the moderate category.

According to him, the high waves are influenced by wind patterns that generally move from southwest to northwest at a speed of 2-20 knots.

He admitted that currently the transition period from the westerly wind season to the east wind, so that the wind direction varied which affected the wave height was relatively moderate (1.25-2.5 meters).

"Incidentally, now the wind direction tends to be in the direction or dominant from the northwest to the southwest at high speed, so it has the potential to trigger high waves," he explained.

Regarding this condition, Teguh appealed to all shipping service users to pay attention to the high risk of waves to shipping safety because based on analysis, wind speed is more than 15 knots and wave height above 1.25 meters is at risk of fishing boats.

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 of large ships, such as cargo ships and cruise ships.

In addition, tourists visiting the southern coast of Garut to Yogyakarta are advised not to swim or play in water because wave heights of 2.5-4 meters can occur at any time.

"Similarly, tourists on the southern coast of Sukabumi and Cianjur, especially those directly connected to the high seas, should not swim or play in the water even though the wave height is predicted to be relatively moderate, which ranges from 1.25-2.5 meters, because it is feared that high waves will be affected from the Indian Ocean south of Sukabumi-Cianjur," said Teguh.