🌊 US Weather Warriors MarineCast — Monday, August 17, 2026
Small Craft Advisories cover portions of the Atlantic coast and lower Chesapeake early today as southwest winds, short-period seas, and nearby showers make for a rough start.
Today on the Water:
Small Craft Advisories remain in effect through 6 AM to 11 AM, depending on zone.
Radar shows numerous cells within 50 nm of Delmarva, including stronger returns near Wilmington and Dover moving west toward the coast; expect showers to remain a real-time concern early.
Conditions improve from north to south through the afternoon as winds ease and turn west to northwest.
Atlantic Coastal Waters (Lewes → southern VA coast):
Early southwest winds run 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt, turning west at 5 to 10 kt this afternoon.
Seas are 4 to 5 ft, occasionally 7 ft, before subsiding to 2 to 3 ft this afternoon. Showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms are in play early.
Delaware Bay:
West winds around 10 kt turn northwest this afternoon. Seas run around 2 ft this morning, falling to 1 ft or less later.
A chance of showers lingers early, with another slight chance late.
Chesapeake Bay & Delmarva-facing Waters:
Southwest winds reach 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt early, diminish late this morning, then turn west at 5 to 10 kt early this afternoon and north late.
Waves reach 3 ft at 4 seconds. Showers and thunderstorms are possible early, especially while the advisories and Marine Weather Statements remain active.
Wind & Seas Outlook:
Today is the peak wind and sea period, led by the Atlantic’s early 4 to 5 ft seas and gusts to 25 kt.
Wednesday is the lightest period: northwest winds near 5 kt and around 2 ft offshore, with west winds near 5 kt and 1 ft or less in Delaware Bay.
Marine Alerts:
- Small Craft Advisory — coastal waters from Fenwick Island, DE, to Parramore Island, VA, until 7 AM.
- Small Craft Advisory — Chesapeake Bay from Drum Point, MD, to Smith Point, VA, and Tangier Sound, until 6 AM.
- Small Craft Advisory — lower Chesapeake Bay zones from Smith Point to Cape Henry, until 7 AM.
- Small Craft Advisory — coastal waters listed by NWS Mount Holly, until 11 AM.
- Marine Weather Statements — portions of the Chesapeake Bay, Tidal Potomac, Eastern Bay, and Choptank River, until 8 AM.
Best Window to be Out: Wednesday morning, before winds turn southerly in the afternoon.
Worst Window: Early today, especially offshore and on the lower Chesapeake while advisory conditions and nearby showers persist.
Bottom Line: Hold off on an early launch today; the afternoon is more manageable, but Wednesday is the cleaner boating window.
— US Weather Warriors #DelmarvaWeather #MarineWeather #BoatingWeather