A surge of low-level winds is affecting Trinidad and Tobago through Friday, June 16th, 2023, leading to seas remaining moderate in open waters to occasionally rough. Additionally, in the event of heavy showers or thunderstorms, seas may also become locally choppy or rough in their vicinity. Spring tides are ongoing through June 21st, which will require caution from mariners.
Latest Alerts
Hazardous Seas Alert Discontinued For T&T
Trinidad and Tobago is NOT under any tropical storm or hurricane threat, watch, or warning at this time.
Seas Forecast For Trinidad and Tobago
On Friday, as winds remain elevated, with sustained winds up to 20 knots and gusts at times exceeding 25 knots. As a result, seas are forecast to remain agitated, with waves in open waters remaining between 2.0 and 2.5 meters, at times exceeding those heights mainly north and east of Trinidad and east Tobago. In sheltered areas, seas are forecast to be below 1.0 meter but occasionally choppy or rough in heavier showers/thunderstorms.
From Saturday through next Tuesday, winds are forecast to be between 10 to 15 knots from the northeast to southeast, with gusts to 20 knots in heavy showers or thunderstorms. Seas in open waters are forecast to be slight to moderate, with waves between 1.0 and 1.5 meters, while in sheltered areas, varying between near calm and smooth, with waves up to 0.5 meters.
From next Wednesday, winds are set to become light and variable as a result of a potent tropical wave or possible low-pressure system moving well north of T&T across the northern Windwards/Leewards. As a result sustained winds are forecast to drop to between 5 and 10 knots, at times near calm, from the east to northeast on Wednesday and then from the south on Thursday.
Though these winds will support calmer seas, seas are still forecast to become moderate by Thursday as a result of this system north of the country. Additionally, caution will be required for the northern Gulf of Paria as southerly winds will support northerly moving showers and thunderstorms, creating larger than usual waves along south-facing coasts of the Gulf of Paria.
Through June 21st, spring tides are forecast to continue, with Saharan Dust remaining across the region through the next seven days.
Through next week, swell periods are forecast between five and ten seconds.
Possible Impacts
Saharan Dust concentrations are forecast to remain at elevated levels over the next seven days, affecting both visibility and air quality.
With elevated low-level winds, mariners will need to exercise caution, particularly during dusk and dawn, where whipped-up sea spray may reduce visibility through Friday, June 16th, 2023.
From Wednesday, June 21st, 2023, mariners will need to pay close attention to both marine and weather forecasts due to an atypical wind regime and a nearby low-pressure system that can produce potentially hazardous conditions in usually calm areas.
Additionally, spring tides are ongoing through June 21st. These are higher than usual high tides and lower than usual low tides, combined with the presence of higher energy waves due to long-period swells, which will increase the rip current threat, particularly long eastern and northern coastlines. Rip currents are strong currents perpendicular to the shoreline that can carry even the strongest swimmers out to sea.
