Winds are set to increase as a strong tropical wave moves through the Lesser Antilles this weekend, whipping up seas across the region. Additionally, Spring tides are now ongoing through Saturday, requiring caution from beachgoers and all marine interests.
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, winds are forecast to range between 10 and 15 knots from the east to northeast resulting in slight to moderate seas in open waters with waves between 1.0 and 1.5 meters, while in sheltered areas, waves remain below 1.0 meter.
On Saturday, the wind regime becomes more variable, between 0 and 15 knots from the south to east, but seas will be on the increase with waves between 1.5 to 2.0 meters in open waters and below 1.0 meter in sheltered areas.
On Sunday through Monday, forecast models indicate fresh to strong winds across Trinidad and Tobago, from the west-southwest to southeast, as a result of a strong tropical wave or possible tropical cyclone moving through the Central/Northern Windwards or Leewards on Sunday. This will result in mostly moderate seas with waves up to 2.0 meters, occasionally above, in open waters and waves near 1.0 meter with choppy conditions in sheltered areas.
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 on both Sunday and Monday.
Note: This forecast for Sunday through Monday may change depending on the development and eventual track of the area of low pressure being monitored for development east of the Lesser Antilles.
For the remainder of the forecast period, winds vary between 5 to 15 knots, generally from the south to the east-northeast. Seas during this period are forecast to remain slight to moderate in open waters with waves up to 1.5 meters and smooth in sheltered areas.
Through the next seven days, no significant long-period swells are expected, with swell periods forecast to remain between six and eleven seconds. However, with possible tropical cyclones in the open Atlantic Ocean, depending on the eventual strength, hazardous long-period swells may become possible toward the end of the forecast period. Additionally, spring tides are forecast to continue through Saturday.
Possible Impacts
Saharan Dust concentrations are forecast to fluctuate at mild to moderate concentrations through the forecast period.
From Sunday, August 20th, 2023, through Monday, August 21st, 2023, mariners will need to pay close attention to both marine and weather conditions due to an atypical wind regime that can produce potentially hazardous conditions in usually calm areas.
Additionally, higher-than-usual high tides and lower-than-usual low tides are forecast through August 19th. Mariners will need to exercise caution, particularly during the high tide periods, and beachgoers will need to exercise caution due to an elevated rip current threat.
