🌊 US Weather Warriors MarineCast — Saturday, September 26, 2026
Storm and Gale Warnings are up across Delmarva waters as a nor’easter drives dangerous north winds, very large seas, rain, and coastal flooding.
Today on the Water: Storm Warnings cover much of the coastal ocean and lower Delaware Bay, with Gale Warnings across the Chesapeake and remaining coastal waters. This is a no-go day for recreational boats. Radar shows active rain cells within 5 to 9 miles of Lewes, including cells moving north to east-northeast. Expect rapidly changing rain conditions near the Delaware coast.
Atlantic Coastal Waters (Lewes → southern VA coast): North winds reach 35 to 40 kt with gusts up to 55 kt, easing to gusts of 45 kt late this morning and afternoon. Seas build 13 to 15 ft, occasionally 22 ft, with rain and showers. No usable window offshore today.
Delaware Bay: North winds increase to 25 to 30 kt tonight with gusts up to 40 kt. Showers continue. Seas build to 4 to 6 ft, including a 6-ft northwest wave component. Conditions will be especially rough in the lower bay.
Chesapeake Bay & Delmarva-facing Waters: North winds run 25 to 30 kt today, diminishing to 20 to 25 kt late, with gusts up to 40 kt. Expect rain and steep, confused wave action from 6-ft north and east wave trains. Gale conditions cover the full Chesapeake.
Wind & Seas Outlook: The peak marine conditions are today offshore and across the Chesapeake, with Delaware Bay roughest tonight. Lighter conditions arrive Tuesday, with northwest winds around 5 kt and 1-foot-or-less seas in Delaware Bay; Atlantic seas improve to around 2 ft Wednesday.
Marine Alerts:
- Storm Warning: coastal waters from Cape May through Parramore Island and lower Delaware Bay, ending 7 AM to 6 PM Saturday.
- Gale Warning: Chesapeake Bay through 10 PM Saturday; southern Virginia coastal waters through September 27 at 12 AM; upper Delaware Bay through September 27 at 6 AM.
- Small Craft Advisory: Chesapeake Bay north of Pooles Island until 6 AM Saturday.
- Coastal Flood Warnings, High Surf Advisories, Rip Current Statement, and Beach Hazards Statements remain in effect for Delmarva coastal communities into September 27.
- High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories are also in effect for exposed coastal areas.
Best Window to be Out: No safe boating window today; wait for Tuesday’s northwest winds around 5 kt and calmer bay conditions.
Worst Window: Today offshore, in the lower Delaware Bay, and across the Chesapeake under Storm and Gale Warnings.
Bottom Line: Keep the boat at the dock today—this is dangerous water, not marginal water.
— US Weather Warriors #DelmarvaWeather #MarineWeather #BoatingWeather