Small Craft Advisory in effect for central and lower Chesapeake Bay through Saturday morning
NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC issued a Small Craft Advisory covering Chesapeake Bay zones from Sandy Point MD south to Smith Point VA, the tidal Potomac from Cobb Island MD to Smith Point, and Tangier Sound, effective through 6:00 AM EDT Saturday, October 17. A minor Coastal Flood Advisory covers Anne Arundel County through 11:00 PM EDT tonight. Check weather.gov/lwx before any Bay departure today or early tomorrow.
NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC issued a Small Craft Advisory at 10:37 AM EDT October 16 covering five Chesapeake Bay and tidal water zones through 6:00 AM EDT Saturday, October 17. The advised zones: Chesapeake Bay from Sandy Point to North Beach MD; Chesapeake Bay from North Beach to Drum Point MD; Chesapeake Bay from Drum Point MD to Smith Point VA; tidal Potomac from Cobb Island MD to Smith Point VA; Tangier Sound and the inland waters surrounding Bloodsworth Island. That covers the central Bay from the Bay Bridge corridor south to the Potomac mouth, and the eastern Bay through the Virginia portion. Small craft should stay off these zones through Friday night.
A separate Coastal Flood Advisory covers Anne Arundel County at minor severity, also from NWS Baltimore, issued at 1:36 PM EDT October 16 and expiring at 11:00 PM EDT tonight. Anne Arundel waterfront access roads, marina parking lots, and boat ramp staging areas may see standing water through this evening's tidal cycle. A call to the specific marina or launch site is the right check before driving to any Anne Arundel waterfront access point tonight.
The same nor'easter producing Gale Warnings on the offshore corridor and Coastal Flood Warnings from New Jersey through Rhode Island is the source of the Bay advisories. The October 15 Maryland and Chesapeake Bay report from On The Water described improving striped bass fishing across the board with cooler water, and tautog and sheepshead active at jetties and bridges. The Small Craft Advisory covers the central and lower Bay zones where the striper bite has been building. Conditions inside the advisory window are not suitable for small craft on the advised waters. The advisory expires Saturday at 6:00 AM EDT.
Pull the current zone text at weather.gov/lwx — not just the advisory header — before any Chesapeake Bay departure through Saturday morning. Advisory expiration times can change if NWS reissues before the stated clock runs out. NWS products are the pre-launch check.
On the water: Rules and conditions can change quickly. Confirm current regulations and official marine forecasts for your exact trip.