🌊 US Weather Warriors MarineCast — Monday, October 5, 2026
Small Craft Advisories are up across the coastal waters, Delaware Bay, and Chesapeake Bay as northwest winds build and rougher conditions develop today.
Today on the Water:
Northwest winds increase during the second half of the morning behind a cold front, with gusts reaching 25 kt in exposed waters.
The roughest ocean conditions are 4 to 5 ft seas, while Delaware Bay builds to 2 to 3 ft this afternoon.
Radar is quiet across Delmarva waters, with no active cells within 50 miles; patchy fog is noted on the Chesapeake.
Atlantic Coastal Waters (Lewes → southern VA coast):
NW winds increase from 5 to 10 kt to around 20 kt, with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas run 4 to 5 ft, including short-period NW waves.
Conditions remain elevated tonight with N winds 15 to 20 kt and 3 to 5 ft seas. The better ocean window arrives Wednesday: SE 5 kt, becoming S, with 1-foot seas.
Delaware Bay:
NW winds build from 5 to 10 kt to 15 to 20 kt, gusting up to 25 kt this afternoon. Waves build from 1 to 2 ft to 2 to 3 ft.
The Bay settles Tuesday night with NW winds around 5 kt becoming SW after midnight and seas 1 foot or less.
Chesapeake Bay & Delmarva-facing Waters:
NW winds reach 10 to 15 kt today, with gusts up to 20 kt late morning through afternoon; patchy fog may reduce visibility.
Tonight, N winds increase to 15 to 20 kt after midnight with gusts up to 25 kt and waves 2 to 3 ft. Tuesday night drops to N winds near 5 kt, becoming SE after midnight.
Wind & Seas Outlook: The strongest winds and highest seas are today through tonight, with the coastal ocean taking the biggest hit. Conditions ease Tuesday night, with the lightest overall conditions Wednesday.
Marine Alerts:
- Small Craft Advisory — coastal waters from Fenwick Island to Parramore Island until 7:00 AM Monday.
- Small Craft Advisory — Delaware Bay waters until 12:00 AM Tuesday.
- Small Craft Advisory — Chesapeake Bay north of Pooles Island through North Beach until 10:00 PM Monday.
- Small Craft Advisory — lower Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point to Cape Henry until 10:00 AM Tuesday.
- Special Weather Statement — Patapsco River including Baltimore Harbor until 7:00 AM Monday.
Best Window to be Out: Wednesday, when Atlantic winds are SE around 5 kt becoming S in the afternoon with 1-foot seas.
Worst Window: This afternoon through tonight, especially offshore and on the lower Bay as winds and short-period waves build.
Bottom Line: Hold off on exposed-water trips today unless your boat and crew are equipped for advisory-level northwest winds and building seas.
— US Weather Warriors #DelmarvaWeather #MarineWeather #BoatingWeather