Urgent – Marine Weather Message
High Surf Advisory
Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service
9:30 pm Saturday 23 August 2025
…High surf advisory for Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands…
Locations to be affected: Particularly reefs and exposed northern and northern facing coastlines with relatively shallow, gently to moderately sloping, nearshore areas.
Timing:
- From this evening until Tuesday morning for the British Virgin Islands
- From tonight until Tuesday morning for Anguilla and Barbuda
- From Sunday evening until Monday afternoon for Antigua
Synopsis: Moderate long-period swells are expected to reach the area, causing hazardous conditions along mainly northern and eastern facing coastlines. The threat level to the life, livelihood, property and infrastructure of those using the affected coastlines is moderate with the potential for significant impacts. These swells could cause life-threatening surfs and rip currents on affected coastlines. A high surf advisory means that dangerous surfs of 2 to 3 metres or 6 to 10 feet will affect some coastlines in the advisory area, producing hazardous conditions.
Seas (significant wave heights): 1.8 to 3.1 metres (6 to 10 feet), occasionally or locally reaching near 3.7 metres (12 feet).
Swell period: 11 to 13 seconds.
Swells: North-northwest at 1.5 to 2.1 metres (5 to 7 feet) and occasionally higher.
Surfs (breaking swells): Over 1.8 metres (over 6 feet). These conditions are conducive to dangerous rip currents. Please note that surfs could be as much as twice the height of swells, depending on the bathymetry of the nearshore areas.
Coastal flooding: High tides combined with onshore wind and swell actions could result in localised coastal flooding and beach erosion.
Potential Impacts: Loss of life–strong currents that can carry even the strongest swimmers out to sea; injuries to beachgoers; beach erosion; sea water splashing onto low-lying coastal roads; beach closures; localised disruptions to marine recreation and businesses; financial losses; damage to coral reefs; saltwater intrusion and disruptions to potable water from desalination. High surfs can knock spectators off exposed rocks and jetties.
Precautionary: Beachgoers, especially to the mainly affected coastlines, should be extremely cautious; bathe only where lifeguards are present or on the sheltered, less affected beaches, mainly to the south. Extreme caution is also required by those using the affected non-beach or rocky coastlines.
Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore, which occur most often at low spots or breaks in the sandbar and near structures such as groins, jetties and piers. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don’t swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
Please continue to monitor these hazardous, life-threatening marine conditions. Stay tuned to updates from the Meteorological Office via antiguamet.com, and Twitter, Facebook and YouTube @abmetservice. Also, stay tuned to ABS Radio and TV and other media platforms for updates.
Forecaster: Letitia Humphreys
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