Coastal Waters Forecast
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA

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FZUS51 KLWX 210857
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Coastal Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
457 AM EDT Fri Aug 21 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.

ANZ500-212300-
457 AM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

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

A cold front will slowly approach from Pennsylvania today as a warm
front approaches from the Virginia Tidewater and Delmarva Peninsula.
 Multiple weak waves of low pressure along these boundaries will
ignite scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms. Some storms
may be severe particularly east of the Blue Ridge and Catoctin
Mountains, and especially across the Interstate 95 corridor toward
the Chesapeake Bay. This frontal system is expected to stall near or
 just southeast of the Mid-Atlantic, and additional ripples of low
pressure riding along it may result in periodic showers and a few
thunderstorms at times through the upcoming weekend.

$$

ANZ535-212300-
Tidal Potomac from Key Bridge to Indian Head-
457 AM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

.REST OF THE OVERNIGHT...N winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft.
.TODAY...NE winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft.
.TONIGHT...E winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft or less. Showers likely.
.SAT...E winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft. Showers with a chance of
tstms.
.SAT NIGHT...SE winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft or less. A chance of
showers and tstms.
.SUN...W winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft.
.MON...NW winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TUE...SW winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft.

Winds and waves higher and visibilities lower in and near tstms.

$$

ANZ536-212300-
Tidal Potomac from Indian Head to Cobb Island-
457 AM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

.REST OF THE OVERNIGHT...N winds 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TODAY...NE winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TONIGHT...E winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft. Showers likely.
.SAT...E winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft. Showers with a chance of
tstms.
.SAT NIGHT...NW winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft or less. A chance of
showers and tstms.
.SUN...W winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.MON...NW winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TUE...SW winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft.

Winds and waves higher and visibilities lower in and near tstms.

$$

ANZ537-212300-
Tidal Potomac from Cobb Island to Smith Point-
457 AM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

.REST OF THE OVERNIGHT...N winds 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TODAY...N winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TONIGHT...E winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft. Showers likely.
.SAT...SE winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft. Showers with a chance of
tstms.
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft. Showers likely
with a chance of tstms.
.SUN...W winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft. A chance of showers.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft or less.
.MON...NW winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming W. Waves 1 ft.
.TUE...NE winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft.

Winds and waves higher and visibilities lower in and near tstms.

$$

ANZ530-212300-
Chesapeake Bay north of Pooles Island-
457 AM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

.REST OF THE OVERNIGHT...N winds 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TODAY...N winds 5 to 10 kt until late afternoon...becoming light.
Waves 1 ft.
.TONIGHT...E winds around 5 kt. Waves flat.
.SAT...E winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft. Showers likely with a
chance of tstms.
.SAT NIGHT...NE winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft or less. A chance of
showers and tstms.
.SUN...W winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft or less. A chance of showers.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.MON...W winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft or less.
.TUE...SW winds around 5 kt. Waves flat.

Winds and waves higher and visibilities lower in and near tstms.

$$

ANZ531-212300-
Chesapeake Bay from Pooles Island to Sandy Point-
457 AM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

.REST OF THE OVERNIGHT...N winds 10 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.TODAY...NE winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 to 2 ft.
.TONIGHT...E winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft. A chance of showers.
.SAT...E winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft. Showers with a chance of
tstms.
.SAT NIGHT...E winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft or less. A chance of
showers and tstms.
.SUN...W winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.MON...NW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TUE...W winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft.

Winds and waves higher and visibilities lower in and near tstms.

$$

ANZ538-212300-
Patapsco River including Baltimore Harbor-
457 AM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

.REST OF THE OVERNIGHT...N winds 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TODAY...NE winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft or less.
.TONIGHT...E winds around 5 kt. Waves flat. A chance of showers.
.SAT...E winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft. Showers with a chance of
tstms.
.SAT NIGHT...E winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft or less. A chance of
showers and tstms.
.SUN...W winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft or less.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft.
.MON...NW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft or less.
.TUE...W winds around 5 kt. Waves flat.

Winds and waves higher and visibilities lower in and near tstms.

$$

ANZ539-212300-
Chester River to Queenstown MD-
457 AM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

.REST OF THE OVERNIGHT...N winds 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TODAY...N winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TONIGHT...E winds around 5 kt. Waves flat. A chance of showers.
.SAT...E winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft. Showers with a chance of
tstms.
.SAT NIGHT...E winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft. A chance of showers
and tstms.
.SUN...W winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft. A chance of showers.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.MON...NW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TUE...SW winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft or less.

Winds and waves higher and visibilities lower in and near tstms.

$$

ANZ532-212300-
Chesapeake Bay from Sandy Point to North Beach-
457 AM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

.REST OF THE OVERNIGHT...N winds 15 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.TODAY...N winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 to 2 ft.
.TONIGHT...E winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft. A chance of showers.
.SAT...E winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft. Showers with a chance of
tstms.
.SAT NIGHT...E winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming SW after midnight. Waves
1 ft. A chance of showers and tstms.
.SUN...W winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.MON...W winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TUE...N winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming S. Waves 1 ft.

Winds and waves higher and visibilities lower in and near tstms.

$$

ANZ540-212300-
Eastern Bay-
457 AM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

.REST OF THE OVERNIGHT...N winds 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TODAY...N winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TONIGHT...E winds 5 kt. Waves flat. A chance of showers.
.SAT...E winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft. Showers with a chance of
tstms.
.SAT NIGHT...SE winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft. A chance of
showers and tstms.
.SUN...W winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft. A chance of showers.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.MON...W winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TUE...W winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft or less.

Winds and waves higher and visibilities lower in and near tstms.

$$

ANZ533-212300-
Chesapeake Bay from North Beach to Drum Point-
457 AM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

.REST OF THE OVERNIGHT...N winds 15 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.TODAY...N winds 10 to 15 kt...diminishing to 5 kt late. Waves 1 to
2 ft.
.TONIGHT...E winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft. Showers likely.
.SAT...E winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft. Showers with a chance of
tstms.
.SAT NIGHT...SE winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming SW after midnight. Waves
1 ft. Showers likely with a chance of tstms.
.SUN...W winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft. A chance of showers.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.MON...W winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TUE...N winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming S. Waves 1 ft.

Winds and waves higher and visibilities lower in and near tstms.

$$

ANZ541-212300-
Choptank River to Cambridge MD and the Little Choptank River-
457 AM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

.REST OF THE OVERNIGHT...N winds 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TODAY...N winds 10 to 15 kt...diminishing to 5 kt late. Waves 1 ft.
.TONIGHT...E winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft. Showers likely.
.SAT...E winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft. Showers with a chance of
tstms.
.SAT NIGHT...S winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft. Showers likely with
a chance of tstms.
.SUN...W winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft. A chance of showers.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.MON...W winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TUE...W winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft.

Winds and waves higher and visibilities lower in and near tstms.

$$

ANZ542-212300-
Patuxent River to Broomes Island MD-
457 AM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

.REST OF THE OVERNIGHT...N winds 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TODAY...N winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TONIGHT...E winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft. Showers likely.
.SAT...E winds 5 kt. Waves less than 1 ft. Showers with a chance of
tstms.
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft. Showers likely with a
chance of tstms.
.SUN...W winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft. A chance of showers.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.MON...W winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TUE...W winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft.

Winds and waves higher and visibilities lower in and near tstms.

$$

ANZ534-212300-
Chesapeake Bay from Drum Point to Smith Point-
457 AM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

.REST OF THE OVERNIGHT...N winds 15 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.TODAY...N winds 10 to 15 kt...diminishing to 5 kt late. Waves 1 to
2 ft.
.TONIGHT...E winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft. Showers likely.
.SAT...SE winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft. Showers with a chance of
tstms.
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft. Showers likely with a
chance of tstms.
.SUN...W winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft. A chance of showers and
tstms.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 to 2 ft.
.MON...NW winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming SW in the evening, then
becoming NW after midnight. Waves 1 to 2 ft.
.TUE...N winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming SE. Waves 1 ft.

Winds and waves higher and visibilities lower in and near tstms.

$$

ANZ543-212300-
Tangier Sound and the inland waters surrounding Bloodsworth Island-
457 AM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

.REST OF THE OVERNIGHT...N winds 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TODAY...N winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TONIGHT...E winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft. Showers likely.
.SAT...SE winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft. Showers with a chance of
tstms.
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft. Showers likely with a
chance of tstms.
.SUN...W winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft. A chance of showers and
tstms.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.MON...NW winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming SW in the evening, then
becoming NW after midnight. Waves 1 ft.
.TUE...NW winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming SE. Waves 1 ft.

Winds and waves higher and visibilities lower in and near tstms.

$$