New York, NY – A powerful gale is hammering East Coast waters today (Friday) with dangerous winds and building seas from the Mid-Atlantic to New England, with peak conditions continuing tonight and lingering into Saturday in some zones.
According to the National Weather Service, Gale Warnings are in effect across key marine areas including the Chesapeake Bay and Tidal Potomac (MD/DC/VA), New York Harbor and Long Island waters (NY/NJ/CT), Narragansett and Buzzards Bays (RI/MA), Cape Cod and Massachusetts Bay (MA), and the Downeast Maine coast (ME). Many zones are seeing west winds 25–40 kt with frequent gusts 40–45 kt. Seas range 7–15 ft nearshore on the south shore of Long Island and Rhode Island/Block Island Sounds, 10–15+ ft off Long Island, and 12–23 ft on outer waters south of New England; Downeast Maine seas are running 12–17 ft.
- Chesapeake Bay/Tidal Potomac (MD/DC/VA): Gale to 6 p.m. Friday, then Small Craft Advisory through 6 a.m. Saturday.
- New York Harbor/LI Sound/South Shore Bays & nearshore ocean (NY/NJ/CT): Gale through 6–12 a.m. Saturday; some ocean zones to noon.
- RI/MA sounds and bays: Gale through 7 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturday depending on zone.
- Downeast & southwest ME waters: Gale through 8 p.m. Saturday.
- Offshore waters from Hudson/Baltimore Canyons to Georges Bank: Gale today and tonight, slowly easing Saturday.
Impacts: Strong winds and steep, hazardous waves can capsize or damage vessels and sharply reduce visibility. NWS advises mariners to remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and secure vessels for severe conditions. Additional caution is urged in Maine where wind waves interacting with swell from Hurricane Melissa may produce especially dangerous seas through Saturday.
