🌊 US Weather Warriors MarineCast — Monday, September 14, 2026
Small Craft Advisories are up across portions of the Chesapeake and southern Virginia coastal waters as northerly winds build through the late morning and afternoon.
Today on the Water: A cold-front wind shift brings rougher conditions, with the strongest push arriving late morning through afternoon. No active radar cells are within 50 nm of Delmarva, so there is no current lightning or thunderstorm concern. Conditions are hazardous for smaller boats, especially exposed Bay reaches and the Atlantic waters.
Atlantic Coastal Waters (Lewes → southern VA coast): Winds shift from northwest 10 to 15 kt to north 15 to 20 kt, with gusts up to 30 kt late morning and afternoon. Seas build to 3 to 4 ft, occasionally 6 ft, with a short-period north wave mixed with southeast swell. The lightest coastal conditions in the supplied forecast arrive Friday: west winds 5 kt, becoming south, with seas around 2 ft.
Delaware Bay: North winds run 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt late while gusts persist. Seas are around 2 ft, with choppy short-period northwest waves. Wednesday offers the calmer Bay window: light and variable winds becoming south around 5 kt, with seas 1 ft or less.
Chesapeake Bay & Delmarva-facing Waters: Northwest winds become north 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt late morning and afternoon. Waves build to 3 to 4 ft, occasionally 5 ft, particularly on exposed reaches. Wednesday improves to southeast winds near 5 kt with flat waves.
Wind & Seas Outlook: Today is the peak wind and wave period across the region, centered on late morning and afternoon. Wednesday is the lighter-wind window on the Bay; the best listed Atlantic window is Friday.
Marine Alerts:
- Small Craft Advisory for Maryland Chesapeake Bay zones until 10 PM Monday.
- Small Craft Advisory for lower Chesapeake Bay, Tangier Sound, and nearby waters until 7 AM Tuesday.
- Small Craft Advisory for Virginia coastal waters from Parramore Island to Cape Charles Light until 6 AM Tuesday.
- Small Craft Advisory for coastal waters south of Cape Charles Light to the Virginia-North Carolina border and Currituck area until 6 PM Tuesday.
- Small Craft Advisory for lower Virginia Chesapeake Bay zones until 6 AM Tuesday.
Best Window to be Out: Wednesday on the Chesapeake Bay, when southeast winds near 5 kt and flat waves are forecast.
Worst Window: Late morning through afternoon today, when northerly gusts reach 30 kt and Atlantic seas build.
Bottom Line: Skip exposed-water runs today unless your boat and crew are equipped for strong northerly gusts and steep, short-period waves.
— US Weather Warriors #DelmarvaWeather #MarineWeather #BoatingWeather