High Waves In The Indian Ocean, BMKG Urges Central Java Sea Service Users To Be Alert

Illustration of sea waves (Doc. ANTARA)

Entering the end of the year, BMKG appealed to marine service users to be more aware of high waves in the southern sea of Central Java, especially in the Indian Ocean region. High waves are expected to occur between December 25 to 28.

"Based on the analysis, the wave height in the Indian Ocean south of Central Java has the potential to reach the range of 2.5 to 4 meters, so it is categorized as high waves," said Head of the BMKG Technician Group at the Tunggul Wulung Meteorological Station in Cilacap, Teguh Wardoyo in Cilacap, quoted from ANTARA on Wednesday, December 25.

He said the potential for high waves was triggered by an increase in wind speed as a result of the presence of tropical cyclone Pabuk in the South China Sea east of Vietnam and the seeds of tropical cyclone 98S in the southwest Indian Ocean of Sumatra.

In this case, he said, wind patterns in the northern part of Indonesia generally move from the northwest to the sea with wind speeds ranging from 8-30 knots, while in the southern part of Indonesia generally moves from the southwest-northwest with wind speeds ranging from 8-30 knots.

According to him, the highest wind speed was observed in the Java Sea, Makassar Strait, and the Pacific Ocean north of Southwest Papua to Papua.

"The wind movement pattern that tends to be in a direction with high speed has the potential to increase wave height," he explained.

In this regard, he said his party issued an early warning of high waves in the Indian Ocean south of Central Java which took effect on December 25-28.

According to him, areas of the Indian Ocean south of Central Java that have the potential for high waves include the Indian Ocean south of Cilacap, the Indian Ocean south of Kebumen, and the Indian Ocean south of Purworejo.

"We urge all marine service users to pay attention to the risk of high waves to shipping because based on analysis, wind speed is more than 15 knots and wave height above 1.25 meters is at risk of fishing boats," he said.

In addition, wind speeds of more than 16 knots and wave heights above 1.5 meters are at risk for barges, wind speeds of more than 21 knots and wave heights above 2.5 meters are 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.

He appealed to people who live and work on the coast around areas that have the opportunity for high waves to remain vigilant.

"People who take advantage of the momentum of the 2024 Christmas and 2025 New Year holidays by traveling to the southern coast of Central Java are advised not to swim or play in water, especially in coastal areas that are directly connected to the high seas (Samudra Indies, ed.)," said Teguh.