🌊 US Weather Warriors MarineCast — Friday, July 3, 2026
Light winds and small seas across the board today, but extreme heat is the real story ashore and on deck.
Today on the Water: High pressure has the region locked down with light, shifty winds and seas mostly 2 ft or less. The hazard today isn't the water — it's the heat. Extreme Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories are in effect across most of Delmarva through Saturday evening. Hydrate hard, rig sun cover, and watch crew for heat stress.
Atlantic Coastal Waters (Lewes → southern VA coast): SW 5-10 kt this morning, backing SE 10-15 kt late in the afternoon. Seas 1-2 ft with a W 2 ft/3-sec chop layered over a SE 1 ft/9-sec swell. Visibility unrestricted. Morning is your smoother window before the afternoon SE fill-in.
Delaware Bay: W around 5 kt early, shifting S late. Seas 1 ft or less with a light S 1 ft/5-sec wave. About as flat as the Bay gets — good for small boats and paddle craft, provided you can handle the heat.
Chesapeake Bay & Delmarva-facing Waters: SW 5-10 kt building to SE 10-15 kt late in the afternoon. Waves 1-2 ft. Expansive high pressure keeps things well below advisory thresholds per the LWX marine discussion.
Wind & Seas Outlook: Winds stay light through Saturday, then S 10-15 kt builds in Monday through Tuesday. Peak seas Tuesday on the Atlantic: 3-4 ft, occasionally to 6 ft, with a chance of showers.
Marine Alerts:
- No active marine alerts.
- Extreme Heat Warning (Kent, Inland Sussex, Delaware Beaches, and Eastern Shore MD counties) until 4:30 PM EDT today, extended through July 4 at 8:00 PM.
- Heat Advisory (Maryland Beaches, Eastern Currituck) until 10:00 AM EDT today, extended through July 4 at 8:00 PM.
- Extreme Heat Warning (VA coastal zones incl. Virginia Beach, Accomack, Northampton, Hampton) until 10:00 AM EDT today, extended through July 4 at 8:00 PM.
Radar: KLWX, KDOX, and KAKQ all quiescent — no cells within 50 nm of Delmarva. Clear skies mean full sun load; plan accordingly.
Best Window to be Out: This morning through early afternoon — flat seas and light winds Bay-wide. Be off the water or well-shaded by mid-afternoon when heat indices peak.
Worst Window: Tuesday night: S 10-15 kt shifting W, seas 3-4 ft occasionally to 6 ft, chance of showers.
Bottom Line: Water conditions are as friendly as they get — launch early, drink more than you think you need, and get in before the afternoon heat wins.
— US Weather Warriors #DelmarvaWeather #MarineWeather #BoatingWeather