🌊 US Weather Warriors MarineCast — Saturday, July 4, 2026
Southwest breeze builds seas to 2-4 ft offshore tonight with a chance of evening thunderstorms — plan the holiday on the water accordingly.
Today on the Water: No active marine alerts, but the forecast trends toward small craft advisory conditions late. Daytime hours look workable across most zones before SW winds and building seas move in tonight along the Atlantic side. Radar is quiet across Delmarva right now.
Atlantic Coastal Waters (Lewes → southern VA coast): SW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt developing, easing to S 5 to 10 kt after midnight. Seas building to 2-4 ft with a short-period 2 ft S swell and a 1 ft SE swell at 9 seconds underneath. Chance of showers and thunderstorms this evening.
Delaware Bay: Lighter shape here — winds staying mostly under 10 kt through the day with seas 1 foot or less. Not much to complain about for Bay runs. Watch for a stray afternoon shower.
Chesapeake Bay & Delmarva-facing Waters: SW 5-10 kt early, veering SE 10-15 kt with gusts to 20 kt this afternoon. Waves 1-2 ft with a SE 2 ft at 4 seconds wind chop. LWX notes weak synoptic gradients but a few afternoon surges up the Bay are possible. Winds and waves will run higher near any thunderstorms.
Wind & Seas Outlook: Peak wind and peak seas both hit tonight along the Atlantic side (SW 10-15 kt gusting 20, seas 2-4 ft). Conditions relax Sunday into midweek, with Wednesday shaping up as the calmest window.
Marine Alerts:
- No active marine alerts.
Best Window to be Out: This morning through early afternoon before SW winds ramp and thunderstorm chances build — get holiday runs done by 3 PM if you can.
Worst Window: Tonight — SW gusts to 20 kt, 2-4 ft seas, and possible thunderstorms offshore.
Bottom Line: Fine morning to launch on any of the three zones, but be back at the dock before evening storms and building seas arrive.
— US Weather Warriors #DelmarvaWeather #MarineWeather #BoatingWeather