Tourists venturing into sea on boats and stepping into the sea for bathing better be on their guard as unexpected and powerful waves are likely to hit the Kerala coast in the coming days.
The warning comes from the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Telangana, which is monitoring the oceans of the country.
High swell waves were likely responsible for the loss of life of five Tamil Nadu tourists near the Poovar sea on Saturday as they were swept away by sudden waves, pointed out ocean scientists.
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Unstable tourist boats venturing into the rough waters on these days may put the life of its passengers at risk, said T.M. Balakrishnan Nair, head of the Ocean Science and Information Services Group of INCOIS here.
Peak on Monday
The intensity of the high waves is likely to peak on Monday which would turn the sea rough on the day. A combination of spring tide (new moon), high swell waves, and winds blowing perpendicular to the coast on the day would be responsible for the rough seas and strong waves. The waves are likely to hit the Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Alappuzha coasts, he warned.
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Available information on ocean and wave patterns indicates that the intensity of the waves would come down after Monday. It would be the southern parts of the State that are likely to be the target of these waves, which would have a wave period between 12 and 14 seconds. The waves may grow up to a height of 2.5 metres, Dr. Nair said.
Sea bathers and tourists keep off the sea for two days, cautions INCOIS