The Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service has issued a Small Craft Advisory for Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands, warning mariners of hazardous sea conditions caused by moderate to fresh winds.
The advisory applies mainly to open Atlantic waters extending up to 20 nautical miles from the islands. For Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat and Anguilla, the advisory remains in effect until Saturday morning, while it begins tonight for the British Virgin Islands and continues through Saturday morning.
Forecasters said a combination of wind waves and wind swells is producing rough marine conditions, with sustained winds of 22 to 35 kilometres per hour and gusts reaching 54 kilometres per hour.
Significant wave heights are forecast between 1.5 and 2.4 metres, or five to eight feet, with occasional seas reaching nearly 3.1 metres, or 10 feet.
The Meteorological Service warned that the conditions present a moderate threat to life, livelihoods, property and marine infrastructure. Potential impacts include injuries or loss of life at sea, damage to vessels and marine equipment, financial losses, disruption to fishing activities and interruptions to marine transportation.
Inexperienced mariners, particularly those operating smaller vessels, are being urged to avoid venturing into open waters until sea conditions improve.
The Meteorological Service said it will continue to monitor the situation and encouraged the public to stay informed through its official forecasts and marine updates.
Urgent – Marine Weather Message
Small Craft Advisory
Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service
2:10 pm Sunday 5th July 2026
…Small craft advisory for Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands…
Locations to be affected: Mainly, open waters on the Atlantic sides of the islands out to 20 nautical miles.
Timing: Until Saturday morning for Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat and Anguilla
From tonight until Saturday morning for the British Virgin Islands
Synopsis: Moderate to fresh winds are causing a combination of wind waves and wind swells, resulting in hazardous seas, mainly on the Atlantic sides of the islands. The threat level to the life, livelihood, property and infrastructure of mariners is moderate with the potential for significant impacts. A small craft advisory means that wind speeds of 17 to 21 knots and or wind waves and or wind swells of 7 feet or greater are occurring or imminent.
Winds over open waters: East at 22 to 35 km/h (12 to 19 knots; 14 to 22 mph), with strong gusts to 54 km/h (29 knots; 33 mph).
Seas (significant wave heights): 1.5 to 2.4 metres (5 to 8 feet), occasionally or locally reaching near 3.1 metres (10 feet). Wind waves and or wind swells up to 2.4 metres or up to 8 feet and occasionally higher. The dominant wind-wave period is 6 to 9 seconds.
Potential Impacts: Loss of life at sea; injuries to mariners; capsize or damage or loss of vessels and marine equipment; financial losses; disruption of fisheries and scarcity of fish products and disruption to marine transportation.
Caution: Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels should avoid navigating in these conditions.
Please continue to monitor these hazardous, life-threatening marine conditions. Stay tuned to updates from the Meteorological Office through antiguamet.com and Twitter, Facebook and YouTube @abmetservice. Also, stay tuned to ABS Radio and TV along with other media platforms for updates.
Forecaster: Letitia Humphreys
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Small Craft Advisory Issued for Antigua and Barbuda as Hazardous Seas Persist.