🌊 US Weather Warriors MarineCast — Friday, August 21, 2026
Small Craft Advisory remains in effect until 8:00 AM EDT for listed Delaware Bay and coastal-water zones as north winds gust to 20 kt this morning.
Today on the Water: North winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt ease this afternoon as winds turn northeast at 5 to 10 kt. Seas run 2 to 3 ft offshore, while Delaware Bay settles from around 2 ft this morning to 1 ft or less this afternoon. Radar is quiet across Delmarva waters, but showers remain possible early.
Atlantic Coastal Waters (Lewes → southern VA coast): North winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt become northeast 5 to 10 kt this afternoon, with gusts up to 15 kt. Seas hold at 2 to 3 ft, including a short-period north swell. The better window is this afternoon after winds ease; slight shower chance early.
Delaware Bay: North winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt diminish to 5 to 10 kt this afternoon. Seas fall from around 2 ft this morning to 1 ft or less. Early conditions are advisory-level; the afternoon is more manageable.
Chesapeake Bay & Delmarva-facing Waters: North winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt turn northeast at 5 to 10 kt late. Waves include northwest 2 ft at 3 seconds and southeast 1 ft at 4 seconds. Showers are possible early, but radar shows no active cells within 50 nm of Delmarva.
Wind & Seas Outlook: Today is the peak wind and sea period, with north winds and 2 to 3 ft coastal seas. Delaware Bay has showers likely and a chance of thunderstorms Saturday night before easing to 1 ft or less overnight.
Marine Alerts:
- Small Craft Advisory for listed Delaware Bay and coastal-water zones until 8:00 AM EDT.
- Marine Weather Statement for listed lower Chesapeake Bay zones until 8:00 AM EDT.
- Dense Fog Advisory until 8:00 AM EDT for western Maryland and nearby West Virginia zones.
- Special Weather Statement until 7:00 AM EDT for listed Ohio Valley, West Virginia, and Kentucky zones.
Best Window to be Out: This afternoon on Delaware Bay, after north winds diminish to 5 to 10 kt and seas drop to 1 ft or less.
Worst Window: This morning, especially in the Small Craft Advisory zones, with north winds gusting to 20 kt.
Bottom Line: Wait out the advisory-period chop this morning; conditions improve this afternoon, but offshore seas remain 2 to 3 ft.
— US Weather Warriors #DelmarvaWeather #MarineWeather #BoatingWeather