Residents and visitors to Barbuda are being urged to stay out of the water as dangerous ocean swells are set to batter the island’s northern coastlines starting Tuesday morning, according to the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services.

The high surf warning, issued Sunday afternoon, takes effect at dawn on Tuesday and will remain in place until Wednesday morning for Barbuda. Similar warnings have been issued for Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands, with the British Virgin Islands facing hazardous conditions from Monday evening through Wednesday afternoon, and Anguilla from Monday night through Wednesday dawn.

Large ocean swells coming from the north-northwest are creating extremely hazardous conditions along beaches facing north and northwest. These swells, measuring 8 to 11 feet and occasionally reaching 13 feet, will produce breaking waves of over 10 feet, possibly twice that height depending on the ocean floor near shore.

The meteorological service has classified the threat level to life, livelihood, property and infrastructure as high, with the potential for extensive impacts to those using the affected coastlines.

Authorities are warning of deadly rip currents that can pull even strong swimmers out to sea, coastal flooding as high tides combine with powerful waves and onshore winds, and beach erosion that could damage coastal infrastructure. Seawater is expected to splash onto low-lying coastal roads, and there is potential for damage to harbors, coral reefs, and desalination facilities. The conditions also pose risks of injuries to beachgoers and disruptions to marine recreation and businesses.

Meteorological officials are advising people not to enter the waters in the main warning areas. Those who must visit beaches should only go to sheltered, less affected areas mainly to the south and east, and only where lifeguards are present. Even in these areas, extreme caution is required. People are also urged to avoid rocky areas and coastal structures along affected coastlines, as high surfs can knock spectators off exposed rocks and jetties.

If caught in a rip current, the meteorological service advises people to relax and float rather than swimming against the current. If able, swimmers should move in a direction following the shoreline. Those unable to escape should face the shore and call or wave for help. Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore and occur most often at low spots or breaks in sandbars and near structures such as groins, jetties and piers.