🌊 US Weather Warriors MarineCast — Sunday, August 16, 2026
Small Craft Advisories are up across Delmarva waters as south winds build, with rougher conditions and showers into tonight.
Today on the Water: South winds increase through the day, with gusts reaching 25 kt in exposed waters. Showers are likely later, with a slight chance of thunderstorms in the Delaware Bay and Chesapeake Bay forecast. Radar shows one strong cell 49 miles WSW of Wilmington, DE; no motion information is available. No recent cells are reported on the KAKQ scan.
Atlantic Coastal Waters (Lewes → southern VA coast): Small Craft Advisory conditions continue, with the roughest stretch tonight: S winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 25 kt. Seas build to 4 to 5 ft, occasionally 7 ft, tonight. Showers become likely late this evening.
Delaware Bay: SE winds 5 to 10 kt become S 10 to 15 kt this afternoon, gusting to 25 kt. Seas rise from 1 ft or less to 2 to 3 ft. Showers become likely late today, with a slight chance of thunderstorms; S winds increase to 15 to 20 kt tonight.
Chesapeake Bay & Delmarva-facing Waters: Light SE winds early become S by late morning, with gusts of 15 to 25 kt expected. Small Craft Advisory conditions cover the Bay. Tonight brings S winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 25 kt, 3 ft waves, and showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
Wind & Seas Outlook: The roughest overall period is tonight, especially offshore where seas reach 4 to 5 ft and occasionally 7 ft. Monday has SW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 25 kt before turning W at 5 to 10 kt during the afternoon; coastal seas subside from 3 to 5 ft to 2 to 3 ft. The lightest conditions arrive Tuesday night, with 5 kt winds and around 2 ft seas offshore.
Marine Alerts:
- Small Craft Advisory for coastal waters from Fenwick Island, DE south through the Virginia coastal waters until 2 PM Sunday.
- Small Craft Advisory for Delaware Bay until 6 PM Sunday.
- Small Craft Advisory for Chesapeake Bay waters north to North Beach, MD until noon Sunday.
- Small Craft Advisory for lower Chesapeake Bay waters from Smith Point, VA to Cape Henry until 2 PM Sunday.
Best Window to be Out: Tuesday night, when winds ease to 5 kt and offshore seas settle near 2 ft.
Worst Window: Tonight—south winds 15 to 20 kt, gusts to 25 kt, rough offshore seas, and showers.
Bottom Line: Hold off on a Sunday launch unless you have a short, protected-water run before winds and showers build.
— US Weather Warriors #DelmarvaWeather #MarineWeather #BoatingWeather