“Meanwhile, high waves in the southern waters of West Java, Central Java, and Yogyakarta are estimated to be around 2.5-4 meters, or in the high category," Head of the BMKG Technician Group at the Tunggul Wulung Cilacap Meteorological Station Teguh Wardoyo stated here on Wednesday.
Wardoyo remarked that the increase in waves was triggered by a pattern of wind movement that tended to be in the same direction at high speed.
In this case, the dominant wind pattern in the southern part of Indonesia is moving from the southwest to the northwest, with a wind speed of around 5-30 knots.
"Related to these situations, the BMKG Meteorology Station Tunggul Wulung Cilacap has again issued an early warning of high waves valid for December 28-29, 2022, and will be updated if there are further developments," he explained.
Wardoyo said areas with the potential for very high waves include the Indian Ocean south of Cianjur, the Indian Ocean south of Garut, the Indian Ocean south of Tasikmalaya, and the Indian Ocean south of Pangandaran.
Moreover, the Indian Ocean south of Cilacap, Indian Ocean south of Kebumen, the Indian Ocean south of Purworejo, and Indian Ocean south of Yogyakarta can also be potentially hit by very high waves.
Meanwhile, areas that can be likely hit by high waves include the southern waters of Cianjur, southern waters of Garut, southern waters of Tasikmalaya, southern waters of Pangandaran, southern waters of Cilacap, southern waters of Kebumen, southern waters of Purworejo, and southern waters of Yogyakarta.
To this end, he said the BMKG appealed to all users of sea services to pay attention to the risk of high waves and wind speeds for shipping safety.
"Moreover, now the westerly wind season is currently underway, so high and very high waves have the potential to occur in the southern waters of West Java to Yogyakarta and also the southern Indian Ocean of West Java-Yogyakarta," he remarked.
Regarding the risk of high waves to shipping safety, Wardoyo said that based on analysis, wind speeds of over 15 knots and high waves above 1.25 meters pose a threat to fishing boats.
Furthermore, wind speeds of over 16 knots and high waves above 1.5 meters present a risk to barges, while wind speeds of more than 21 knots and high waves above 2.5 meters pose a risk to ferries.
Meanwhile, wind speeds of over 27 knots and high waves above four meters can be a danger to large vessels, such as cargo ships and cruise ships.
"We also urge people taking advantage of the year-end holiday momentum by traveling on the south coast of West Java to Yogyakarta to not swim or play in the water," Wardoyo emphasized.
"Especially in coastal areas that are directly connected to the open sea, because high waves can come at any time," he added.
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Translator: Sumarwoto, Katriana
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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