Libya’s National Meteorological Center has issued a high-impact weather warning as strong winds and dangerous sea conditions are expected to affect much of the Libyan coastline over the coming days, raising serious concerns for maritime activity and coastal safety.
According to the latest marine forecast, powerful northwesterly to westerly winds will sweep across the western coast, while the eastern coastline will experience winds shifting from southwesterly to northwesterly directions.
Wind speeds are expected to range between 25 and 45 knots, with peak intensity forecast from Sunday onward.
These conditions are expected to drive a sharp increase in wave heights, with seas rising between 3 and 5 meters, and in some areas potentially exceeding 5 meters.
The sea state is forecast to shift from rough to very rough, significantly increasing risks for fishing boats, small vessels, and port operations along the coast.
Visibility is expected to deteriorate to moderate or poor levels due to sea spray, rough waters, and intermittent rainfall. Sky conditions will remain partly cloudy at first, with cloud cover increasing later in the day and during nighttime hours. Light and scattered rain is possible, and isolated thunderstorms may develop in some coastal areas.
Sea surface temperatures are expected to remain between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius along most of the Libyan coast.
Conditions are also expected to worsen along the stretch from Ras Lanuf to Tobruk. Winds in this area will gradually shift direction and intensify, particularly between Benghazi and Shahat, where speeds could reach up to 35 knots.
Wave heights are forecast to increase from relatively calm levels of 1 to 2 meters to as high as 5 meters, turning the sea increasingly unstable.
The National Meteorological Center urged fishermen, sailors, and coastal residents to exercise extreme caution, avoid unnecessary maritime activity, and closely monitor official weather updates. Authorities warned that the expected conditions could disrupt marine traffic, threaten coastal infrastructure, and increase the likelihood of accidents at sea.