The Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service has issued a high surf advisory for Barbuda, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands, warning of hazardous coastal conditions through Friday night and into Friday midnight for Barbuda. According to Antigua News Room, the advisory was issued at 10:10 am on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
Moderate long-period swells are currently reaching the region, generating dangerous conditions along northwestern and northern-facing coastlines. The Meteorological Service describes the threat level to life, livelihood, property, and infrastructure as moderate, with the potential for significant impacts.
The advisory affects reefs and exposed northwestern and northern-facing coastlines with relatively shallow, gently to moderately sloping nearshore areas. Breaking surf heights are expected to exceed 1.8 metres (6 feet), with dangerous surf of 2 to 3 metres (6 to 10 feet) possible on some coastlines. Significant wave heights are forecast between 1.2 and 2.1 metres (4 to 7 feet), occasionally reaching near 2.7 metres (9 feet). Swells from the north-northwest and north are running at 1.5 to 1.8 metres (5 to 6 feet) with a period of 9 to 10 seconds.
Authorities warn that surf heights could be as much as twice the height of swells, depending on the underwater terrain of nearshore areas. These conditions are also conducive to dangerous rip currents — powerful channels of water that flow rapidly away from shore, most commonly occurring at low spots or breaks in sandbars and near coastal structures such as groins, jetties, and piers.
High tides combined with onshore winds and swell action may also result in localised coastal flooding and beach erosion in affected areas.
The Meteorological Service is urging beachgoers, particularly along the most affected coastlines, to exercise extreme caution. Residents and visitors are advised to swim only at beaches where lifeguards are present, or on sheltered beaches located to the south and west. Those accessing rocky or non-beach coastlines in the affected areas are also urged to take extreme care.
The primary risk to human life includes strong currents capable of overwhelming even experienced swimmers. The advisory for the British Virgin Islands and Anguilla remains in effect until Friday night, while the advisory for Barbuda extends until Friday midnight.
