A strong tropical wave, Tropical Wave 17, is forecast to move across T&T and the Lesser Antilles on Tuesday through Wednesday, influencing the region’s wind regime through midweek. Then, by Sunday, King Tides are forecast to begin, with some of the highest high tides for the year and lowest low tides requiring caution from mariners.
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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 Tuesday, the axis of Tropical Wave 17 is forecast to move across T&T with easterly to northeasterly winds during the first half of the day, between 5 to 15 knots, but gusts to 30 knots are possible in heavy showers/thunderstorms. During the second half of the day into Wednesday, increasing winds from the south to southeast are forecast, increasing from near calm from mid-Tuesday, up to 20 knots by mid-Wednesday, with gusts to 30 knots in heavy showers/thunderstorms.
As a result of these winds, seas are forecast to remain moderate in open waters with waves between 1.5 to 2 meters while in sheltered areas, waves are forecast to remain below 1.0 meter. However, caution will be required for the northern Gulf of Paria as winds from the south will support northerly moving showers and thunderstorms, creating larger than usual waves along south-facing coasts of the Gulf of Paria.
By late Wednesday and into the weekend, winds return to normal levels, ranging from 10 to 15 knots from the southeast to the northeast. Seas in open waters are forecast to be slight to moderate during this period, while in sheltered areas, below 1.0 meter to smooth conditions.
Saharan Dust levels are forecast to increase from late Wednesday, June 28th, 2023 and again from Sunday, July 1st, 2023.
Through next week, swell periods are forecast between six and eleven seconds.
Possible Impacts
Saharan Dust concentrations are forecast to remain at elevated levels from late Wednesday, June 28th, 2023, affecting visibility and air quality.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, mariners will need to pay close attention to both marine and weather conditions due to an atypical wind regime and weather associated with Tropical Wave 17 that can produce potentially hazardous conditions in usually calm areas.
Additionally, King Tides are forecast to begin on July 1st, 2023. While spring tides are higher than usual high tides and lower than usual low tides, King Tides are some of the highest high tides and lowest low tides for the year, which will increase the rip current threat. Rip currents are strong currents perpendicular to the shoreline that can carry even the strongest swimmers out to sea.
