NSRI NATIONAL SAFETY ALERT: Rough Sea conditions and Big Waves

NSRI, in cooperation with Police, maritime authorities, DRM (Disaster Risk Management) and the emergency services are appealing to boaters, sailors, paddlers, bathers, anglers and coastal hikers to be aware of a SAWS (South African Weather Services) warning - alerting to rough sea conditions and big waves along the West Coast coastline, Western Cape Coast coastline, South Cape Coast coastline and potentially extending beyond - for the next few days.

We are appealing to public and to the maritime community to follow SAWS weather alerts.

The SAWS forecast rough sea conditions may also be affected by the full moon Spring tide that peaks on Thursday 23 May - bringing the normal daily 2 high tides and daily 2 low tides to be higher than normal at high tide and to be lower than normal at low tide.

Spring tides may cause stronger than normal rip currents and areas that are not normally affected by waves at high tide may be engulfed by waves during the Spring high tide.

Caution is advised and we appeal to public members and to the maritime community to have safety top of mind.

Anglers should note high tide times and stay clear from the shoreline during the 2 daily high tides.

Anglers should avoid crossing to islands along the coastline during the low tide - to fish - as these islands can be cut off from mainland during high tides.

Coastal hikers should not try to cross at river mouths, where currents can be particularly strong during thye outgoing tide and do to try to cross through hiking trails that are close to the shoreline during high tide (where Spring high tide can cut off shoreline hiking trails).

Boaters, sailors and paddlers should wear their life jackets while their craft and/or vessels are underway and during rough sea conditions, and to always have safety equipment at the ready

Download and use NSRI's free SafeTrx smart phone application.

https://www.nsri.org.za/water-...