🌊 US Weather Warriors MarineCast — Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Small craft advisory-type conditions build Thursday as southerly winds ramp up and seas climb to 3 ft — today is the softer day of the pair.
Today on the Water: Quiet start across most Delmarva waters with light winds and low seas. Radar shows a cluster of cells 30-45 nm south of Cape Charles drifting WNW at 8-14 kt — that's onshore motion toward the lower Bay mouth, worth watching if you're headed out of Chincoteague or the VA coast. A Flash Flood Warning is up for Essex, Richmond, and Westmoreland counties in VA until 5:15 AM EDT.
Atlantic Coastal Waters (Lewes → southern VA coast): Manageable today ahead of Thursday's build. Expect the sharpest change Thursday afternoon when S winds ramp to 10-15 kt with gusts to 20, and seas climb to 2-3 ft with a 3 ft E swell at 7 seconds. Scattered showers and a few storms possible Thursday evening.
Delaware Bay: Best conditions of the week right now — NE 5-10 kt becoming SE this afternoon, seas 1 ft or less. Thursday afternoon shifts SE 10-15 kt with gusts to 20 and seas build to around 2 ft. Chance of showers and storms Thursday afternoon and evening.
Chesapeake Bay & Delmarva-facing Waters: E winds 10-15 kt today with SE seas around 2 ft at 4 seconds — a bit of chop. Chance of showers and a slight chance of storms early, then just a stray shower this afternoon. Watch those cells south of Cape Charles if you're in the lower Bay. Tonight settles to S around 5 kt with 1 ft waves.
Wind & Seas Outlook: Peak winds Thursday afternoon into Thursday night (S 10-15 kt, gusts 20). Peak seas Thursday at 2-3 ft on the Atlantic side. Saturday looks like the cleanest day ahead — N 5-10 kt, seas around 2 ft.
Marine Alerts:
- Flash Flood Warning — Essex, Richmond, Westmoreland counties, VA — until 5:15 AM EDT July 8
Best Window to be Out: Today through this evening on the Delaware Bay and mid-Atlantic coast, before Thursday afternoon's wind ramp. Lower Bay boaters should keep an eye on the cells drifting toward the VA coast.
Worst Window: Thursday night — S gusts to 20 kt, 2-3 ft seas, storms possible in the evening.
Bottom Line: Launch today if you can — Thursday's shoulder gets rough by afternoon and stays that way into the night.
— US Weather Warriors #DelmarvaWeather #MarineWeather #BoatingWeather