š US Weather Warriors MarineCast ā Thursday, July 30, 2026
Small Craft Advisories are up on much of the Chesapeake Bay today as northwest winds gust up to 20 knots before easing late.
Today on the Water: Chesapeake Bay boaters face advisory-level northwest winds through this afternoon, with the roughest conditions earlier in the day. Radar is quiet across Delmarva, with no active cells within 50 miles; showers remain possible at times in the forecast. Friday is the clear downshift, with light winds and lower waves across all waters.
Atlantic Coastal Waters (Lewes ā southern VA coast): Current detailed conditions are limited for the coastal waters zone. Friday brings north winds near 5 knots, becoming southeast in the afternoon, with seas around 2 feet and a southeast swell at 7 seconds. Showers are in the forecast at times, but radar is currently quiescent.
Delaware Bay: Northwest winds run 15 to 20 knots today, diminishing to 10 to 15 knots late; seas hold at 1 to 2 feet. A slight chance of showers arrives late, though no radar cells are currently active nearby. Friday offers north winds around 5 knots, becoming southwest around 5 knots in the afternoon, with seas 1 foot or less.
Chesapeake Bay & Delmarva-facing Waters: Small Craft Advisories cover several Bay zones today. Northwest winds are 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots, dropping to 5 to 10 knots late. Waves are around 2 feet, made up of a short-period northwest component and southeast swell. Friday settles to north winds near 5 knots with waves around 1 foot.
Wind & Seas Outlook: The strongest near-term Bay winds are today, while the highest coastal seas arrive Sunday night: south winds 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots and seas 3 to 4 feet, occasionally 6 feet. Showers become likely offshore after midnight Sunday night.
Marine Alerts: ā¢ Small Craft Advisory ā Chesapeake Bay north of Pooles Island through Sandy Point and the Chester River to Queenstown: until 6:00 PM Thursday. ā¢ Small Craft Advisory ā Sandy Point to Drum Point, Tidal Potomac from Cobb Island to Smith Point, and nearby waters: until 2:00 PM Thursday. ā¢ Small Craft Advisory ā Drum Point to Smith Point and Tangier Sound/inland waters around Bloodsworth Island: until 2:00 PM Thursday.
Best Window to be Out: Friday, when north winds hold near 5 knots and Bay waves are around 1 foot.
Worst Window: Sunday night offshore, with 3 to 4 foot seas occasionally reaching 6 feet and showers increasing.
Bottom Line: Hold off on exposed Chesapeake runs today if your boat is sensitive to northwest gusts; Friday is the better launch day.
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