🌊 US Weather Warriors MarineCast — Friday, October 2, 2026
Small Craft Advisories are up across much of the Chesapeake Bay, with a more hazardous north-to-northeast wind and wave pattern building this weekend.
Today on the Water:
Small Craft Advisories cover central and southern Chesapeake Bay waters this morning and extend into Saturday for several zones.
Southerly winds uptick through today ahead of a cold front tonight. Radar is quiet across Delmarva, though showers remain in the forecast at times.
Atlantic Coastal Waters (Lewes → southern VA coast):
Friday-specific wind and sea data are limited for the coastal waters.
Showers are possible in the forecast period, but radar shows no active cells within 50 miles of Delmarva.
Conditions deteriorate Saturday with north winds 15 to 20 kt, gusts to 25 kt, and seas 3 to 4 ft, occasionally 6 ft.
Delaware Bay:
Friday-specific wind and sea data are limited for Delaware Bay.
Showers are possible in the forecast period, with no active radar cells near the Bay corridor.
The rougher Bay period arrives Sunday with east winds 10 to 15 kt and gusts to 20 kt.
Chesapeake Bay & Delmarva-facing Waters:
Small Craft Advisories remain in effect across central and southern Bay waters.
Southerly winds increase somewhat today, then a cold front pushes south tonight.
Saturday brings north winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt; Bay waves build 3 to 4 ft, occasionally 5 ft.
Wind & Seas Outlook:
The main wind and wave hit is Saturday, especially on the Chesapeake and coastal waters.
Atlantic seas peak Tuesday at 4 to 5 ft, occasionally 7 ft, with north winds 20 to 25 kt before easing during the afternoon.
Marine Alerts:
- Small Craft Advisory, Pooles Island to Sandy Point and Baltimore-area waters — until 10 AM Saturday.
- Small Craft Advisory, Sandy Point south to Smith Point and Eastern Bay waters — until 10 AM Friday or 10 AM Saturday, depending on zone.
- Small Craft Advisory, Smith Point to New Point Comfort — until 1 PM Saturday.
- Small Craft Advisory, New Point Comfort to Cape Henry — until 4 PM Saturday.
Best Window to be Out: Wait for Sunday night on the Chesapeake, when north winds drop to 5 kt and waves fall below 1 ft.
Worst Window: Saturday, when north winds gust to 25 kt and Chesapeake and coastal conditions turn rough.
Bottom Line: Do not plan a casual Friday Bay run in advisory waters; the better boating window is not until conditions settle Sunday night.
— US Weather Warriors #DelmarvaWeather #MarineWeather #BoatingWeather