National Weather Service Marine Forecast FZUS51 KLWX

FZUS51 KLWX 050557
CWFLWX

Coastal Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
1257 AM EST Thu Feb 5 2026

Tidal Potomac River and Maryland portion of Chesapeake Bay.

Forecasts of wave heights do not include effects of wind direction relative to tidal currents. Expect higher waves when winds are blowing against the tidal flow. Waves flat where waters are iced over.

ANZ500-052100
1257 AM EST Thu Feb 5 2026

SYNOPSIS FOR THE TIDAL POTOMAC AND MD PORTION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY

A weak area of low pressure will pass south of the waters later today into tonight. Brief high pressure returns Thursday with a strong Arctic front set to cross the waters Friday into Saturday. High pressure returns in the wake of this system early next week. Small Craft Advisories may be needed Thursday evening. Gale force winds are expected late Friday night through Saturday night with storm force winds possible over the open waters Saturday.

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ANZ535-052100
Tidal Potomac from Key Bridge to Indian Head
1257 AM EST Thu Feb 5 2026

GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT

OVERNIGHT
N winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft.

THU
N winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft.

THU NIGHT
N winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft.

FRI
SW winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft. A chance of snow.

FRI NIGHT
SW winds around 5 kt...becoming NW 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 35 kt after midnight. Waves 1 to 2 ft.

SAT
NW winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts to 45 kt. Waves 3 ft.

SAT NIGHT
NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Waves 2 ft.

SUN
NW winds 15 to 20 kt...diminishing to 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.

MON
N winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft or less.

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ANZ536-052100
Tidal Potomac from Indian Head to Cobb Island
1257 AM EST Thu Feb 5 2026

GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT

OVERNIGHT
N winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.

THU
N winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.

THU NIGHT
N winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft.

FRI
SW winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft. A chance of snow.

FRI NIGHT
SW winds 5 kt...becoming NW 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 35 kt after midnight. Waves 1 ft... building to 3 ft after midnight.

SAT
NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Waves 3 ft.

SAT NIGHT
NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Waves 3 ft.

SUN
NW winds 20 to 25 kt...diminishing to 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 to 2 ft.

MON
N winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft.

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ANZ537-052100
Tidal Potomac from Cobb Island to Smith Point
1257 AM EST Thu Feb 5 2026

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON

GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT

OVERNIGHT
N winds 10 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 2 ft.

THU
N winds 5 to 10 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 1 to 2 ft.

THU NIGHT
N winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.

FRI
SW winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft.

FRI NIGHT
S winds 5 kt...becoming NW 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 35 kt after midnight. Waves flat... building to 2 ft after midnight. A chance of snow.

SAT
NW winds 25 to 35 kt. Waves 5 ft.

SAT NIGHT
NW winds 25 to 35 kt. Waves 4 ft.

SUN
NW winds 20 to 25 kt...diminishing to 5 kt. Waves 2 to 3 ft... subsiding to 1 ft.

MON
NW winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft or less.

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ANZ530-052100
Chesapeake Bay north of Pooles Island
1257 AM EST Thu Feb 5 2026

GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT

OVERNIGHT
N winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft.

THU
N winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft.

THU NIGHT
N winds around 5 kt. Waves flat.

FRI
W winds around 5 kt. Waves flat.

FRI NIGHT
SW winds 5 kt...becoming W 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 35 kt after midnight. Waves flat... building to 2 ft after midnight. A chance of snow.

SAT
NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Waves 3 ft.

SAT NIGHT
NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Waves 2 to 3 ft.

SUN
NW winds 20 to 25 kt...diminishing to 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft or less.

MON
NW winds around 5 kt. Waves flat.

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ANZ531-052100
Chesapeake Bay from Pooles Island to Sandy Point
1257 AM EST Thu Feb 5 2026

GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT

OVERNIGHT
N winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft.

THU
N winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.

THU NIGHT
N winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft.

FRI
W winds 5 kt. Waves flat.

FRI NIGHT
SW winds 5 kt...becoming W 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 35 kt after midnight. Waves flat... building to 2 ft after midnight. A chance of snow.

SAT
NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Waves 5 ft.

SAT NIGHT
NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Waves 3 ft.

SUN
NW winds 20 to 25 kt...diminishing to 5 kt. Waves 1 to 2 ft... subsiding to flat after midnight.

MON
NW winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft or less.

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ANZ538-052100
Patapsco River including Baltimore Harbor
1257 AM EST Thu Feb 5 2026

GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT

OVERNIGHT
N winds 5 kt. Waves flat.

THU
N winds 5 kt. Waves flat.

THU NIGHT
NW winds 5 kt. Waves flat.

FRI
SW winds around 5 kt. Waves flat.

FRI NIGHT
SW winds 5 kt...becoming W 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 30 kt after midnight. Waves 1 ft or less. A chance of snow.

SAT
NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Waves 2 to 3 ft.

SAT NIGHT
NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Waves 1 to 2 ft.

SUN
NW winds 15 to 20 kt...diminishing to 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft or less.

MON
NW winds around 5 kt. Waves flat.

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ANZ539-052100
Chester River to Queenstown MD
1257 AM EST Thu Feb 5 2026

GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT

OVERNIGHT
N winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft.

THU
N winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.

THU NIGHT
N winds 5 kt. Waves flat.

FRI
W winds 5 kt. Waves flat.

FRI NIGHT
SW winds 5 kt...becoming W 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 35 kt after midnight. Waves flat... building to 2 ft after midnight. A chance of snow.

SAT
NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Waves 5 ft.

SAT NIGHT
NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Waves 3 ft.

SUN
NW winds 20 to 25 kt...diminishing to 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 to 2 ft...subsiding to flat after midnight.

MON
NW winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft.

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ANZ532-052100
Chesapeake Bay from Sandy Point to North Beach
1257 AM EST Thu Feb 5 2026

GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT

OVERNIGHT
N winds 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.

THU
N winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.

THU NIGHT
N winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft or less.

FRI
SW winds 5 kt. Waves flat.

FRI NIGHT
S winds 5 kt...becoming W 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 35 kt after midnight. Waves flat...building to 2 ft after midnight. A chance of snow.

SAT
NW winds 25 to 35 kt. Waves 5 ft.

SAT NIGHT
NW winds 25 to 35 kt. Waves 4 ft.

SUN
NW winds 20 to 25 kt...diminishing to 5 kt. Waves 2 to 3 ft... subsiding to 1 ft.

MON
NW winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft.

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ANZ540-052100
Eastern Bay
1257 AM EST Thu Feb 5 2026

GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT

OVERNIGHT
N winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.

THU
N winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.

THU NIGHT
N winds 5 kt. Waves flat.

FRI
W winds 5 kt. Waves flat.

FRI NIGHT
SW winds 5 kt...becoming W 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 30 kt after midnight. Waves flat... building to 2 ft after midnight. A chance of snow.

SAT
NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Waves 4 ft.

SAT NIGHT
NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Waves 2 to 3 ft.

SUN
NW winds 20 to 25 kt...diminishing to 5 kt. Waves 1 to 2 ft... subsiding to flat after midnight.

MON
NW winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft or less.

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ANZ533-052100
Chesapeake Bay from North Beach to Drum Point
1257 AM EST Thu Feb 5 2026

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON

GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT

OVERNIGHT
N winds 10 kt. Waves 2 ft.

THU
N winds 10 kt. Waves 1 to 2 ft.

THU NIGHT
N winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.

FRI
SW winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft.

FRI NIGHT
S winds 5 kt...becoming W 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 35 kt after midnight. Waves flat...building to 2 ft after midnight. A chance of snow.

SAT
NW winds 25 to 35 kt. Waves 6 ft.

SAT NIGHT
NW winds 25 to 35 kt. Waves 5 ft.

SUN
NW winds 20 to 25 kt...diminishing to 5 kt. Waves 2 to 3 ft... subsiding to 1 ft.

MON
NW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft or less.

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ANZ541-052100
Choptank River to Cambridge MD and the Little Choptank River
1257 AM EST Thu Feb 5 2026

GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT

OVERNIGHT
N winds 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.

THU
N winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.

THU NIGHT
N winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.

FRI
W winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft.

FRI NIGHT
S winds 5 kt...becoming W 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 35 kt after midnight. Waves flat...building to 2 ft after midnight. A chance of snow.

SAT
NW winds 25 to 35 kt. Waves 4 ft.

SAT NIGHT
NW winds 25 to 35 kt. Waves 3 ft.

SUN
NW winds 20 to 25 kt...diminishing to 5 kt. Waves 2 to 3 ft... subsiding to 1 ft.

MON
NW winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft or less.

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ANZ542-052100
Patuxent River to Broomes Island MD
1257 AM EST Thu Feb 5 2026

GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT

OVERNIGHT
N winds 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.

THU
N winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.

THU NIGHT
N winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft.

FRI
SW winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft.

FRI NIGHT
S winds 5 kt...becoming W 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 30 kt after midnight. Waves 1 to 2 ft. A chance of snow.

SAT
NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Waves 3 ft.

SAT NIGHT
NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Waves 2 to 3 ft.

SUN
NW winds 20 to 25 kt...diminishing to 5 kt. Waves 1 to 2 ft.

MON
NW winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft.

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ANZ534-052100
Chesapeake Bay from Drum Point to Smith Point
1257 AM EST Thu Feb 5 2026

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON

GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT

OVERNIGHT
N winds 10 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 2 ft.

THU
N winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 2 ft.

THU NIGHT
N winds 10 kt. Waves 1 to 2 ft.

FRI
NW winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming S in the afternoon. Waves 1 ft.

FRI NIGHT
S winds 5 kt...becoming W 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 35 kt after midnight. Waves flat...building to 2 ft after midnight. A chance of snow.

SAT
NW winds 30 to 35 kt. Waves 7 ft.

SAT NIGHT
NW winds 35 kt...diminishing to 25 to 30 kt after midnight. Waves 6 ft.

SUN
NW winds 25 to 30 kt...diminishing to 5 to 10 kt. Waves 5 ft...subsiding to 1 ft.

MON
NW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.

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ANZ543-052100
Tangier Sound and the inland waters surrounding Bloodsworth Island
1257 AM EST Thu Feb 5 2026

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON

GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT

OVERNIGHT
N winds 10 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 1 ft.

THU
N winds 10 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 1 ft.

THU NIGHT
N winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.

FRI
W winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft or less.

FRI NIGHT
S winds 5 kt...becoming W 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 35 kt after midnight. Waves flat...building to 2 ft after midnight. A chance of snow.

SAT
NW winds 30 to 35 kt. Waves 4 ft.

SAT NIGHT
NW winds 35 kt...diminishing to 25 to 30 kt after midnight. Waves 3 ft.

SUN
NW winds 25 to 30 kt...diminishing to 5 to 10 kt. Waves 2 to 3 ft...subsiding to 1 ft.

MON
NW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.