Powerful tidal surges and unusually rough seas pounded Cayman’s coastline over the weekend, disrupting marine activity and creating dramatic scenes – and some minor damage – along the George Town waterfront as a cold front moved through the northwestern Caribbean.
Conditions worsened quickly from Saturday, 31 Jan., after Cayman’s National Weather Service issued a marine watch. By Saturday evening, offshore wave heights had climbed to about four to six feet, increasing overnight to seven to nine feet as heavy seas pushed toward the islands.
By Sunday, 1 Feb., alerts were upgraded to a full marine warning, with strong to near-gale force northerly winds driving waves of roughly nine to 15 feet. The rough conditions were compounded by a noticeable drop in temperature, with daytime highs hovering around 73°F.
Along the George Town waterfront, high tides combined with heavy swell and floating sargassum to send waves repeatedly over the seawall. Water and debris surged onto Harbour Drive, at times reaching the road.
The surging tides created a spectacle that drew tourists and residents alike to the waterfront, many stopping to watch and photograph the dramatic conditions despite warnings to keep clear of the shoreline.
The strength of the surge was also evident offshore. A vessel belonging to Yellow Submarine Cayman broke free during the worst of the weather and was pushed onto a reef in South Sound.
For waterfront businesses, the weekend underscored the economic toll of prolonged marine disruptions. Businesses took early precautions as conditions worsened, stripping docks and clearing waterfront areas to limit damage from the rising seas.
At Divers Down and Cayman Cabana on North Church Street, dock planks were removed ahead of the surge, while at Eden Rock Dive Centre the water access ladder was taken out and outdoor furniture was moved well inland, with tables and chairs stacked in the parking lot to keep them out of reach of the waves.
Luigi Moxam, CEO of Cayman Cabana, said the conditions were a major inconvenience for businesses in the area.
“Cayman Cabana isn’t just an oceanside restaurant – sometimes, we literally have the ocean on the inside,” Moxam said. “As entertaining as it is watching the waves, the reality is it’s been a tough week for many people in tourism due to the rough seas, with missing out on an entire week of business from the cruise ships that missed Cayman. Along with the costs of pending repairs, it is what it is. So, we just give thanks anyway and make the best of it. Hopefully, we’ll be busy this week with Lobsterfest.”
Harsh marine conditions were also evident south of George Town, particularly in the Smith Barcadere area, where powerful surge and rough seas made nearshore waters dangerous and waves crashed against the reef.
Elevated swell continued along the west coast past Seven Mile Beach, with strong wave action persisting beyond Governors Beach before beginning to taper off just beyond the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa area.
According to the National Weather Service Cayman Islands, the unsettled conditions are expected to persist through Monday, with generally fair but windy weather and cooler overnight temperatures around 63°F. Sea conditions are forecast to gradually improve through Tuesday, though authorities continue to urge caution around coastal areas in the aftermath of the weekend’s surge.
Nighttime temperatures are expected to fall into the 60s through 3 Feb., as Cayman continues to feel the effects of its fourth cold front of the year.
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Yet the absence of radar and satellite imagery at our Weather Service continues. The radar installation was due for replacement within the next year I believe, so why are we spending more money on expensive repairs which only last a few days?.