Urgent – Marine Weather Message
High Surf Warning
Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services
4:35 pm Sunday 1st February, 2026
…High surf warning for Barbuda, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands…
Locations to be affected: Reefs and mainly exposed northern and northwestern-facing coastlines with relatively shallow, gentle to moderately sloping, nearshore areas.
Timing:
From Monday evening until Wednesday afternoon for the British Virgin Islands
From Monday night until Wednesday dawn for Anguilla
From Tuesday dawn until Wednesday dawn for Barbuda
Synopsis: Rising moderate long-period swells are reaching the area and causing very hazardous conditions mainly along northern and northwestern-facing coastlines.
The threat level to the life, livelihood, property and infrastructure of those using the affected coastlines is high, with the potential for extensive impacts. These swells are expected to cause life-threatening surfs and rip currents for affected coastlines. A high surf warning means that dangerous battering surfs will affect some coastlines in the warning area, producing very hazardous conditions.
Seas (significant wave heights): 2.1 to 3.4 metres (7 to 11 feet), occasionally or locally reaching near 4.0 metres (13 feet).
Swell period: 10 to 14 seconds.
Swells: North-northwest at 2.4 to 3.4 metres (at 8 to 11 feet) and occasionally higher.
Surfs (breaking swells): Over 3.1 metres (over 10 feet). These conditions will be very 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 will result in 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; disruptions to marine recreation and businesses; financial losses; damage to coral reefs; salt-water intrusion and disruptions to potable water from desalination. High surfs can knock spectators off exposed rocks and jetties. Breaking waves may occasionally impact harbours making navigating the harbour channel dangerous.
Precautionary actions: No one should enter the waters of the main warning areas. All are also urged to avoid rocky and or coastal structures along affected coastlines.
Bathe only where lifeguards are present or on the sheltered, less affected beaches, mainly to the south and east. Extreme caution is still required by those using these alternate areas.
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
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