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An onlooker at Thunder Bay in St. James watching the large waves.

High surf creates stir

Larger than average waves seen at beaches on Barbados’ west coast attracted the attention of many onlookers yesterday.

At Paynes Bay and at Thunder Bay, both in St. James, visitors and locals alike were standing at a safe distance on the shore, watching the waves come in. Some individuals used their cell phones and cameras to photograph and record what they saw.

At Thunder Bay, some surfers also ventured into the ocean to ride the waves and have fun. Persons speaking to The Barbados Advocate at this west coast location said from early in the morning, large waves were spotted. They pointed to the sand that spread from the shore over to the opposite side of the road to show how far the water had gone.

One gentleman, who did not give his name, described it as “rare” for the sea to be this high at this time of the year. He said in the past, he has seen high swells mostly in early December.

On the south coast, sea conditions were the opposite and the seas were calmer. At Rockley Beach in Christ Church, scores of tourists could be seen enjoying an afternoon dip in the ocean. Others opted to relax on beach chairs while reading or eating a meal.

The lifeguards stationed at this beach said they were aware of the large waves crashing at shores on the east and west coasts. Though stating such sea conditions were enjoyed by surfers, they cautioned all Barbadians and visitors not to go swimming in areas where high sea swells were being experienced.

“Right now, the sea swells are generating on the west side of Barbados because of the wind conditions but on the south, they are pretty calm because there is a lack of wind generating. The swells are up to like 13 feet because the winds are very strong on the east and west of Barbados,” one lifeguard explained.

In the weather forecast posted on the official Barbados Meteorological Services website, it was stated that the seas are rough in open water with swells from 2.5m to 4.0m. A High-Surf Advisory and Small-Craft Warning remains in effect for above normal northerly sea-swells.

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