A high-surf warning and coastal flood watch have been issued for the Virgin Islands, and the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) is advising everyone to stay out of the water until hazardous surf conditions subside.
The National Weather Service has notified the territory of extremely dangerous surf conditions across the northern-exposed coastlines of the Virgin Islands, which can cause very dangerous rip currents and localized coastal flooding.
A high-surf warning is in effect until 8 p.m. Tuesday. A coastal flood watch and a high-surf advisory remain in effect from 8 p.m. Tuesday to 6 p.m. Wednesday, as the seas are expected to slowly subside, according to an alert from VITEMA.
High-surf warnings are issued when breaking wave action results in an especially heightened threat to life and property within the surf zone. The warning indicates that dangerous battering waves will pound the shoreline, which will result in very dangerous swimming conditions, deadly rip currents and severe beach erosion. A coastal flood watch means that conditions are possible for coastal flooding causing inundation of coastal roads, low-lying areas and beach erosion.
Local beachgoers should remain out of the waters until these hazardous surf conditions subside, which will not be until the middle of the week. People at the beach should also watch for large breaking waves surging upon the shore, which can carry people of all sizes into the ocean. Avoid being near the shoreline and stay off of rock formations.
These extremely large breaking waves will generate strong and dangerous currents within the surf zone called rip currents. These narrow outward flowing currents can carry people and animals away from the coastline and out to sea. If you become caught in a rip current, do not panic. Calmly remain afloat, gather your bearings relative to the beach and swim parallel to the beach. You will eventually leave the grip of this narrow current and be able to safely swim to shore.
The greatest potential for coastal flooding and beach erosion will be during times of high tide. The times and heights of the next high tides for the following locations are approximately 8 a.m. Tuesday for Magens Bay, St. Thomas and 6:45 a.m. Tuesday for Christiansted, St. Croix.
Those staying near the shore should take protective measures in case coastal flooding occurs or warnings are issued.
According to the National Weather Service, large, sustained north-northeast swells continued to affect the Atlantic waters and the Caribbean passages throughout Monday, resulting in extremely dangerous surf conditions across the northern-exposed coastlines of all of the local islands. The swells are capable of producing breaking waves of 15 to 20 feet, or larger, along the northern-exposed shoals, reefs and beaches in the Virgin Islands.
A second batch of larger north-northeast swells, with very long wave periods of 14 to 16 seconds, will build across the local Atlantic waters Monday night, peaking early Tuesday before slowly subsiding through the mid-week. These swells will likely produce even larger breaking waves of 20 to 25 feet or larger along with frequent and strong rip currents, resulting in continued extremely dangerous surf conditions.
In the past, similar swell events of these sizes and duration have also produced significant coastal flooding and beach erosion along parts of the northern coasts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, especially during times of high tides.
Similar warnings have been issued for parts of Puerto Rico, Culebra and Vieques. Puerto Rico has reported three deaths due to drowning as of Monday morning, according to the VITEMA alert.
