510
FZUS51 KLWX 180858
CWFLWX
COASTAL WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
358 AM EST THU DEC 18 2025
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.
ANZ500-182300-
358 AM EST THU DEC 18 2025
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE TIDAL POTOMAC AND MD PORTION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY...
HIGH-END SMALL CRAFT CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY WITH STRONG SOUTHERLY
WINDS THURSDAY EVENING AHEAD OF A STRONG COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE. GALES
WILL BE POSSIBLE EARLY FRIDAY MORNING AS A LINE OF HEAVY SHOWERS
MOVES OVER THE WATERS WITH THE ACTUAL FRONT. AFTER A BRIEF LULL
BEHIND THIS LINE, STRONG POST-FRONTAL WINDS ARE EXPECTED FRIDAY
AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING AS WELL, GALES LIKELY NORTH OF NORTH
BEACH MD AND IN THE UPPER POTOMAC, SCAS LIKELY SOUTH. A BRIEF BREAK
IN WINDS IS EXPECTED FOR THE FIRST HALF OF SATURDAY, BUT STRONG
SOUTHERLY WINDS SATURDAY NIGHT WILL LIKELY NECESSITATE SMALL CRAFT
ADVISORIES ONCE AGAIN.
ANZ535-182300-
TIDAL POTOMAC FROM KEY BRIDGE TO INDIAN HEAD-
358 AM EST THU DEC 18 2025
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...
REST OF THE OVERNIGHT
NE WINDS 5 KT. WAVES FLAT.
TODAY
SE WINDS AROUND 5 KT. WAVES 1 FT.
TONIGHT
S WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS TO 35 KT. WAVES 2 FT.
RAIN. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.
FRI...W WINDS 15 TO 20 KT. GUSTS UP TO 30 KT
INCREASING TO 40 KT
IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES 2 FT. RAIN.
FRI NIGHT...NW WINDS 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS TO 30 KT
DIMINISHING
TO AROUND 5 KT WITH GUSTS TO 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WAVES 1 TO 2 FT.
SAT
SW WINDS 5 TO 10 KT. GUSTS UP TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
WAVES 1 FT.
SAT NIGHT
S WINDS 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS TO 20 KT. WAVES 1 FT.
SUN...W WINDS 10 TO 15 KT
BECOMING NW 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 FT.
MON...NW WINDS 5 TO 10 KT
BECOMING S. WAVES 1 FT.
ANZ536-182300-
TIDAL POTOMAC FROM INDIAN HEAD TO COBB ISLAND-
358 AM EST THU DEC 18 2025
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...
REST OF THE OVERNIGHT
E WINDS 5 KT. WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT.
TODAY
SE WINDS 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 FT.
TONIGHT
S WINDS 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS TO 35 KT. WAVES 2 TO 3 FT.
RAIN. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.
FRI
W WINDS 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS TO 35 KT. WAVES 2 FT. A CHANCE
OF RAIN.
FRI NIGHT...NW WINDS 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS TO 30 KT
DIMINISHING
TO AROUND 5 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WAVES 1 TO 2 FT.
SAT...S WINDS AROUND 5 KT
INCREASING TO 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS TO
20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES 1 FT.
SAT NIGHT
SW WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS TO 25 KT. WAVES 2 FT.
SUN...W WINDS 10 TO 15 KT
BECOMING NW. WAVES 1 FT.
MON...NW WINDS 5 TO 10 KT
BECOMING S. WAVES 1 FT.
ANZ537-182300-
TIDAL POTOMAC FROM COBB ISLAND TO SMITH POINT-
358 AM EST THU DEC 18 2025
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...
REST OF THE OVERNIGHT
E WINDS 5 KT. WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT.
TODAY
SE WINDS 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 FT.
TONIGHT
S WINDS 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS TO 35 KT. WAVES 3 FT.
RAIN. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.
FRI
W WINDS 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS TO 40 KT. WAVES 3 FT. RAIN
LIKELY.
FRI NIGHT...NW WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS TO 30 KT
DIMINISHING
TO 5 TO 10 KT WITH GUSTS TO 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WAVES 3 FT...
SUBSIDING TO 1 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SAT...W WINDS 5 KT
BECOMING S 10 TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES
1 FT.
SAT NIGHT
SW WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS TO 25 KT. WAVES 2 FT.
SUN...W WINDS 10 TO 15 KT
BECOMING NW 15 TO 20 KT. WAVES 2 FT.
MON...NW WINDS 10 TO 15 KT
BECOMING SW 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 TO
2 FT.
ANZ530-182300-
CHESAPEAKE BAY NORTH OF POOLES ISLAND-
358 AM EST THU DEC 18 2025
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...
REST OF THE OVERNIGHT
NE WINDS 5 KT. WAVES FLAT.
TODAY
SE WINDS AROUND 5 KT. WAVES 1 FT.
TONIGHT...SE WINDS 5 TO 10 KT
BECOMING S 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS
TO 35 KT IN THE LATE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. WAVES 2 TO 3 FT. RAIN.
VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.
FRI...W WINDS 20 TO 25 KT. GUSTS UP TO 35 KT
INCREASING TO 45 KT
IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES 3 FT. RAIN LIKELY.
FRI NIGHT...W WINDS 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS TO 40 KT
DIMINISHING
TO 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WAVES 3 FT...
SUBSIDING TO 1 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SAT
SW WINDS 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 FT.
SAT NIGHT
S WINDS 15 TO 20 KT. WAVES 2 FT.
SUN...W WINDS 10 TO 15 KT
BECOMING NW. WAVES 1 FT.
MON...NW WINDS 10 TO 15 KT
BECOMING SW 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 FT.
ANZ531-182300-
CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM POOLES ISLAND TO SANDY POINT-
358 AM EST THU DEC 18 2025
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...
REST OF THE OVERNIGHT
NE WINDS 5 KT. WAVES FLAT.
TODAY
SE WINDS 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 FT.
TONIGHT...S WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS TO 25 KT
INCREASING TO
25 TO 30 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WAVES 3 FT. RAIN. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.
FRI...W WINDS 20 TO 25 KT. GUSTS UP TO 35 KT
INCREASING TO 45 KT
IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES 4 FT. RAIN.
FRI NIGHT...W WINDS 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS TO 40 KT
DIMINISHING
TO 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WAVES 4 FT...
SUBSIDING TO 2 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SAT...W WINDS 5 TO 10 KT
BECOMING S 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS TO
20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES 1 TO 2 FT.
SAT NIGHT
S WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS TO 25 KT. WAVES 3 FT.
SUN...W WINDS 15 TO 20 KT
BECOMING NW. WAVES 2 FT.
MON...NW WINDS 10 TO 15 KT
BECOMING SW 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 TO
2 FT.
ANZ538-182300-
PATAPSCO RIVER INCLUDING BALTIMORE HARBOR-
358 AM EST THU DEC 18 2025
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...
REST OF THE OVERNIGHT
LIGHT WINDS. WAVES FLAT.
TODAY
E WINDS AROUND 5 KT. WAVES 1 FT OR LESS.
TONIGHT
S WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS TO 35 KT. WAVES 1 TO 2 FT.
RAIN. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.
FRI...W WINDS 15 TO 20 KT. GUSTS UP TO 30 KT
INCREASING TO 45 KT
IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES 2 FT. RAIN.
FRI NIGHT...W WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS TO 35 KT
DIMINISHING
TO 5 TO 10 KT WITH GUSTS TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WAVES 1 TO 2 FT.
SAT
SW WINDS 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 FT OR LESS.
SAT NIGHT
SW WINDS 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS TO 20 KT. WAVES 1 FT.
SUN...W WINDS 10 TO 15 KT
BECOMING NW. WAVES 1 FT.
MON...NW WINDS 5 TO 10 KT
BECOMING SW AFTER MIDNIGHT. WAVES 1 FT
OR LESS.
ANZ539-182300-
CHESTER RIVER TO QUEENSTOWN MD-
358 AM EST THU DEC 18 2025
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...
REST OF THE OVERNIGHT
NE WINDS 5 KT. WAVES FLAT.
TODAY
SE WINDS 5 KT. WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT.
TONIGHT
S WINDS 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS TO 35 KT. WAVES 2 TO 3 FT.
RAIN. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.
FRI
W WINDS 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS TO 40 KT. WAVES 3 FT. RAIN
LIKELY.
FRI NIGHT...W WINDS 15 TO 20 KT. GUSTS UP TO 35 KT
DIMINISHING
TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WAVES 4 FT...SUBSIDING TO 2 FT AFTER
MIDNIGHT.
SAT...W WINDS 5 KT
BECOMING S 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS TO 20 KT IN
THE AFTERNOON. WAVES 1 FT.
SAT NIGHT
S WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS TO 25 KT. WAVES 2 FT.
SUN...W WINDS 10 TO 15 KT
BECOMING NW 15 TO 20 KT. WAVES 2 FT.
MON...NW WINDS 10 TO 15 KT
BECOMING SW 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 TO
2 FT.
ANZ532-182300-
CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM SANDY POINT TO NORTH BEACH-
358 AM EST THU DEC 18 2025
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...
REST OF THE OVERNIGHT
NE WINDS 5 KT. WAVES FLAT.
TODAY
SE WINDS 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 FT.
TONIGHT...S WINDS 25 TO 30 KT. WAVES 3 FT
BUILDING TO 5 FT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. RAIN. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.
FRI
W WINDS 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS TO 40 KT. WAVES 4 FT. RAIN.
FRI NIGHT...W WINDS 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS TO 35 KT
BECOMING NW
10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WAVES 4 FT...
SUBSIDING TO 2 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SAT...W WINDS 5 TO 10 KT
BECOMING S 15 TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
WAVES 1 TO 2 FT.
SAT NIGHT
SW WINDS 20 TO 25 KT. WAVES 4 FT.
SUN...W WINDS 15 TO 20 KT
BECOMING NW. WAVES 2 FT.
MON...NW WINDS 10 TO 15 KT
BECOMING SW. WAVES 1 TO 2 FT.
ANZ540-182300-
EASTERN BAY-
358 AM EST THU DEC 18 2025
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...
REST OF THE OVERNIGHT
E WINDS 5 KT. WAVES FLAT.
TODAY
SE WINDS 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 FT OR LESS.
TONIGHT
S WINDS 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS TO 35 KT. WAVES 2 TO 3 FT.
RAIN. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.
FRI
W WINDS 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS TO 40 KT. WAVES 3 FT. RAIN
LIKELY.
FRI NIGHT...NW WINDS 15 TO 20 KT. GUSTS UP TO 35 KT
DIMINISHING
TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WAVES 3 FT... SUBSIDING TO 1 FT AFTER
MIDNIGHT.
SAT...W WINDS 5 TO 10 KT
BECOMING S 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS TO
20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES 1 FT.
SAT NIGHT
S WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS TO 25 KT. WAVES 2 FT.
SUN...W WINDS 10 TO 15 KT
BECOMING NW 15 TO 20 KT. WAVES 2 FT.
MON...NW WINDS 10 TO 15 KT
BECOMING SW 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 FT.
ANZ533-182300-
CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM NORTH BEACH TO DRUM POINT-
358 AM EST THU DEC 18 2025
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...
REST OF THE OVERNIGHT
E WINDS 5 KT. WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT.
TODAY
SE WINDS 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 FT.
TONIGHT
S WINDS 25 TO 30 KT. WAVES 4 FT. RAIN. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.
FRI...SW WINDS 20 TO 25 KT
BECOMING W IN THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS UP
TO 40 KT. WAVES 4 FT. RAIN LIKELY.
FRI NIGHT...NW WINDS 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS TO 35 KT
DIMINISHING
TO 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WAVES 4 FT...
SUBSIDING TO 2 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SAT...W WINDS 5 TO 10 KT
BECOMING S 15 TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
WAVES 1 TO 2 FT.
SAT NIGHT
SW WINDS 20 TO 25 KT. WAVES 3 FT.
SUN...W WINDS 15 TO 20 KT
BECOMING NW. WAVES 2 TO 3 FT.
MON...NW WINDS 15 TO 20 KT
DIMINISHING TO 5 TO 10 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON AND EVENING, THEN BECOMING SW 10 TO 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
WAVES 1 TO 2 FT.
ANZ541-182300-
CHOPTANK RIVER TO CAMBRIDGE MD AND THE LITTLE CHOPTANK RIVER-
358 AM EST THU DEC 18 2025
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...
REST OF THE OVERNIGHT
E WINDS 5 KT. WAVES FLAT.
TODAY
SE WINDS 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 FT.
TONIGHT
S WINDS 25 TO 30 KT. WAVES 2 TO 3 FT. RAIN. VSBY 1 TO
3 NM.
FRI...SW WINDS 25 TO 30 KT
BECOMING W 20 TO 25 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. WAVES 3 FT. RAIN LIKELY.
FRI NIGHT...NW WINDS 20 TO 25 KT
DIMINISHING TO 10 TO 15 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. GUSTS UP TO 30 KT. WAVES 4 FT... SUBSIDING TO 2 FT AFTER
MIDNIGHT.
SAT...W WINDS 5 TO 10 KT
BECOMING S 15 TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
WAVES 1 TO 2 FT.
SAT NIGHT
S WINDS 20 TO 25 KT. WAVES 3 FT.
SUN...W WINDS 15 TO 20 KT
BECOMING NW. WAVES 2 FT.
MON...NW WINDS 15 TO 20 KT
DIMINISHING TO 5 TO 10 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON AND EVENING, THEN BECOMING S 10 TO 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
WAVES 1 TO 2 FT.
ANZ542-182300-
PATUXENT RIVER TO BROOMES ISLAND MD-
358 AM EST THU DEC 18 2025
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...
REST OF THE OVERNIGHT
E WINDS 5 KT. WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT.
TODAY
SE WINDS 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 FT.
TONIGHT
S WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS TO 30 KT. WAVES 1 FT.
RAIN. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.
FRI...SW WINDS 15 TO 20 KT
BECOMING W IN THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS UP
TO 35 KT. WAVES 1 FT. RAIN LIKELY.
FRI NIGHT...NW WINDS 10 TO 15 KT. GUSTS UP TO 30 KT
DIMINISHING
TO 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WAVES 1 FT.
SAT...W WINDS 5 KT
BECOMING S 10 TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES
1 FT.
SAT NIGHT
SW WINDS 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS TO 25 KT. WAVES 1 FT.
SUN...W WINDS 10 TO 15 KT
BECOMING NW. WAVES 1 FT.
MON...NW WINDS 10 TO 15 KT
BECOMING SW 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 FT.
ANZ534-182300-
CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM DRUM POINT TO SMITH POINT-
358 AM EST THU DEC 18 2025
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...
REST OF THE OVERNIGHT
E WINDS 5 KT. WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT.
TODAY
SE WINDS 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 TO 2 FT.
TONIGHT
S WINDS 25 TO 30 KT. WAVES 4 FT. RAIN. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.
FRI...SW WINDS 25 TO 30 KT
BECOMING W 20 TO 25 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. WAVES 4 FT. RAIN LIKELY.
FRI NIGHT...NW WINDS 20 TO 25 KT
DIMINISHING TO 10 TO 15 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. GUSTS UP TO 30 KT. WAVES 4 FT... SUBSIDING TO 2 FT AFTER
MIDNIGHT.
SAT...NW WINDS 5 TO 10 KT
BECOMING S 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS TO
20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES 1 TO 2 FT.
SAT NIGHT
S WINDS 20 TO 25 KT. WAVES 3 FT.
SUN...W WINDS 15 TO 20 KT
BECOMING NW 20 TO 25 KT. WAVES 2 TO
3 FT...BUILDING TO 4 FT.
MON...N WINDS 15 TO 20 KT
BECOMING NW 5 TO 10 KT IN THE EVENING,
THEN BECOMING SW AFTER MIDNIGHT. WAVES 2 TO 3 FT...SUBSIDING TO
1 FT.
ANZ543-182300-
TANGIER SOUND AND THE INLAND WATERS SURROUNDING BLOODSWORTH ISLAND-
358 AM EST THU DEC 18 2025
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...
REST OF THE OVERNIGHT
E WINDS 5 KT. WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT.
TODAY
SE WINDS 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 FT.
TONIGHT
S WINDS 25 TO 30 KT. WAVES 3 FT. RAIN. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.
FRI...SW WINDS 25 TO 30 KT
BECOMING W 20 TO 25 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. WAVES 3 FT. RAIN LIKELY.
FRI NIGHT...NW WINDS 20 TO 25 KT
DIMINISHING TO 10 TO 15 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. GUSTS UP TO 30 KT. WAVES 2 TO 3 FT.
SAT...NW WINDS 5 TO 10 KT
BECOMING S 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS TO
20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES 1 TO 2 FT.
SAT NIGHT
S WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS TO 25 KT. WAVES 2 FT.
SUN...W WINDS 15 TO 20 KT
BECOMING NW 20 TO 25 KT. WAVES 1 TO
2 FT.
MON...NW WINDS 15 TO 20 KT
DIMINISHING TO 5 TO 10 KT IN THE
EVENING, THEN BECOMING SW AFTER MIDNIGHT. WAVES 1 TO 2 FT.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
Main Text Page