🌊 US Weather Warriors MarineCast — 2026-05-17
Small Craft Advisory on the Atlantic coastal waters until 10:00 AM EDT, with a calmer Bay early and a rougher setup building later in the period.
Today on the Water: The Atlantic coastal waters are under a Small Craft Advisory through 10:00 AM EDT. Chesapeake Bay stays sub-SCA today through Monday, but channeling can still kick up occasional higher gusts over the open waters. Shower chances are in the forecast at times, with the more uncomfortable marine conditions arriving later this week.
Atlantic Coastal Waters (Lewes → southern VA coast): S winds 5 to 10 kt are the lightest read, with seas 2 to 3 ft and SE swell around 3 ft at 8 seconds. The tougher stretch comes Tue night and especially Wed night, when S winds reach 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 25 kt and seas build to 3 to 5 ft, then 3 to 4 ft with occasional 6 ft. Best water is early today before the advisory expires; showers are in the mix later.
Delaware Bay: Winds start around 5 kt from the S, turning SE in the afternoon, with seas 1 foot or less early and around 2 ft later. Tue night turns rougher with S winds 10 to 15 kt and gusts up to 20 kt, with seas 2 to 3 ft. Thursday brings N winds 10 to 15 kt, easing to NE 5 to 10 kt in the afternoon, with a chance of showers.
Chesapeake Bay & Delmarva-facing Waters: Today is the smoothest window, with SW winds around 5 kt and waves less than 1 ft. Mon builds to SE 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon, with waves 2 to 3 ft. Late week turns more unsettled, with NE 10 to 15 kt and gusts up to 20 kt Thu night and showers likely.
Wind & Seas Outlook: Peak wind threat is Wed night offshore, with S winds 15 to 20 kt and gusts to 25 kt. Peak seas come Tue night on the Atlantic coastal waters, with 3 to 5 ft seas and higher pockets pushing toward 6 ft Wed night.
Marine Alerts:
- Small Craft Advisory in effect until 10:00 AM EDT
Best Window to be Out: Today after 10:00 AM EDT, with the best ride on Chesapeake Bay before the afternoon build on Monday becomes a factor elsewhere.
Worst Window: Wed night — that is the roughest period, especially on the Atlantic coastal waters, with gusts to 25 kt and seas occasionally to 6 ft.
Bottom Line: If you’re launching today, the Bay is the better bet; the Atlantic waters stay caution-level this morning and turn more hazardous again later in the week.
— US Weather Warriors #DelmarvaWeather #MarineWeather #BoatingWeather