The Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Office says a small craft advisory is in effect for Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.
The locations to be affected are mainly open waters on the Atlantic sides of the islands out to 20 nautical miles.
The advisory remains in effect until Sunday for Montserrat, St Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands and until Tuesday for Antigua and Barbuda.
The met office in its synopsis states a combination of wind waves and wind swells is causing hazardous seas, especially for open waters on the Atlantic sides of the islands.
The threat level to the life, livelihood, property and infrastructure of mariners is moderate to high with the potential for significant to extensive impacts.
A small craft advisory means that wind speeds of 21 to 33 knots and or wind waves and or wind swells of 7 feet or greater are occurring or imminent. Warnings may be required for Saturday for Antigua and Barbuda.
It also advised the following:
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Seas (significant wave heights): 1.8 to 2.7 metres (6 to 9 feet), occasionally or locally reaching near 3.5 metres (12 feet). Wind waves and or wind swells: 1.8 to 2.7 metres or 6 to 9 feet and occasionally higher. The 9 feet is for mainly Atlantic waters of Antigua, Barbuda and Anguilla on Saturday. The dominant wind wave period is 6 to 9 seconds.
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Potential Impacts: Loss of life at sea; injuries to mariners; capsize or damage or loss of vessels and marine equipment; financial losses; disruption of fisheries and scarcity of fish products and disruption to marine transportation.
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Caution: Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels should avoid navigating in these conditions.