🌊 US Weather Warriors MarineCast — Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Small-craft-level conditions build offshore tonight, with the Atlantic coastal waters becoming the roughest part of the forecast.
Today on the Water: Radar is quiet across Delmarva, with no active cells within 50 nm of the coast or Bay corridors, though showers are in the forecast at times. The main deterioration comes tonight, especially offshore, as southwest winds and short-period seas increase.
Atlantic Coastal Waters (Lewes → southern VA coast): Tonight brings SW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt and seas 3 to 4 ft, occasionally to 6 ft. The dominant south swell is 3 ft at 4 seconds, adding a choppy ride. Showers remain possible. The lighter coastal stretch arrives Saturday with north winds 5 to 10 kt and seas around 2 ft.
Delaware Bay: The Bay stays comparatively manageable through the midweek pattern, with its highest seas around 2 ft Wednesday night under SE winds 5 to 10 kt. Showers are possible after midnight Wednesday night. Friday looks calmer, with NW winds 5 to 10 kt and seas 1 foot or less.
Chesapeake Bay & Delmarva-facing Waters: Tonight, south winds 10 to 15 kt turn southwest late, with gusts up to 20 kt and waves around 2 ft. Short-period south waves at 3 seconds will keep exposed reaches bumpy. Showers are possible, and winds and waves can run higher near thunderstorms. Thursday eases to SW winds around 5 kt and 1-foot waves.
Wind & Seas Outlook: The highest wind and sea period is tonight on the Atlantic coastal waters, where seas may occasionally reach 6 ft. Conditions improve on the Chesapeake Thursday; Delaware Bay has its higher wave period Wednesday night before settling Friday.
Marine Alerts: No active marine alerts.
Best Window to be Out: Thursday on the Chesapeake Bay, where SW winds around 5 kt and 1-foot waves offer the smoothest available window.
Worst Window: Tonight offshore from Lewes through the southern Virginia coast, with gusts up to 20 kt and 3 to 4 ft seas occasionally reaching 6 ft.
Bottom Line: Launches are more reasonable in protected Bay waters than offshore today, but avoid the Atlantic tonight if your boat or crew is not comfortable in building, short-period seas.
— US Weather Warriors #DelmarvaWeather #MarineWeather #BoatingWeather