Mere hours after the last Hazardous Seas Alert was discontinued by the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS), which was in effect for the previous 13 days, the country was placed under another, more severe Hazardous Seas Alert yesterday.
Long-period swells originating from the far North Atlantic Ocean have travelled thousands of kilometres to produce large, breaking waves along Atlantic and northern-facing coastlines across the Lesser Antilles.
Since December 9, these waves generally have peaked around 3.0 metres (10 feet), but from today, waves along T&T’s northern coasts are forecast to reach as high as 3.5 metres (11.5 feet).
Coastal communities along T&T’s northern and northeastern coastlines have been placed under the Met Office’s first-ever Orange-Level Hazardous Seas Alert from 2 pm today, through noon Wednesday (December 28).
Spring tides are also ongoing through Monday (December 26). Spring tides are higher-than-usual high tides and lower-than-usual low tides due to the new and full moons that occur monthly.
According to the TTMS, T&T should also expect choppy conditions along northern-facing coastlines in the Gulf of Paria, with large waves and hazardous conditions amplified during high tides.
The Met Office said effects from these swells are forecast to begin initially along the northern coasts of Tobago and then Trinidad within a couple of hours after.
For an Orange-Level Hazardous Seas Alert, severe impacts are likely, including dangerous conditions for swimming and small craft operations, very high surf, dangerous rip currents, moderate to significant beach erosion, and coastal flooding in low-lying areas.
The TTMS advised sea bathers, fishermen, small craft operators and other coastal interests to secure lives, livelihoods, coastal property, exercise extreme caution along the coast, prepare for dangerous breaking waves and currents, follow the instructions of lifeguards and monitor official news sources.
