Bridgetown,Barbados, March 18, 2008 (CDERA) - Barbados and Saint Lucia Meteorological Offices have issued weather forecasts indicating that significant wave height is expected over the Eastern Caribbean Wednesday March 19 through Thursday March 20, 2008. A deep low pressure system centered over the North Atlantic is forecasted to generate large northerly swells over that area.

The outlook for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean issued by the Barbados Meteorological Office indicates that by tomorrow the front is forecasted to drift southwards across the island chain with increasing north-easterly winds behind the front resulting in a gradual deterioration in sea-swells over the eastern Caribbean. Swells in the region of 4 to 5m (12 to 16ft) are expected over the coastal waters surrounding Barbados from late Wednesday/early Thursday.

National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) of Saint Lucia is monitoring the situation and local contingency measures are being put in place particularly for the safe harbour of vessels at this time.

The Department of Emergency Management (DEM) Barbados is aware of the situation and is also putting contingency arrangements in place.

CDERA Coordinating Unit made contact with the Barbados Meteorological Office on the status of the forecast. The public is asked to note that the over the next two days potential significant sea swells  may be observed.

Contact has also been made with Disaster Offices in the Eastern Caribbean to ascertain progress on local contingency arrangements. 

For local information persons are advised to contact the National Disaster Offices.

CDERA CU will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates should this become necessary.