Washington, D.C. – The National Weather Service Ocean Prediction Center has issued a Storm Warning for portions of the western North Atlantic Ocean, where powerful winds and dangerous seas are forecast to develop through Friday and Saturday.
According to the latest Offshore Waters Forecast, north winds will rapidly intensify tonight, reaching 40 to 55 knots (46–63 mph) by Friday morning, with seas building to 16 to 27 feet. The warning affects marine zones east of 69°W and south of 39°N, extending up to 250 nautical miles offshore, including areas near Georges Bank.
“Individual waves may be more than twice the significant wave height,” the forecast warns — meaning some swells could exceed 50 feet in the most turbulent zones. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to reduce visibility to 1 nautical mile or less at times.
Conditions will remain hazardous through Friday night, with sustained winds of 35 to 45 knots and seas of 15 to 25 feet before gradually subsiding over the weekend. Mariners are urged to avoid open waters and remain in port until conditions improve.
By Sunday and Monday, seas are expected to lower to 6–11 feet, though renewed southerly winds could bring another round of rough conditions early next week.
