BALTIMORE, Md. – Mariners across the Chesapeake Bay and Tidal Potomac should brace for challenging waters Friday as small craft advisories remain in effect into the evening. Hazardous winds and choppy conditions are expected to impact a wide stretch of waterways from Sandy Point south toward Smith Point, as well as Baltimore Harbor and surrounding rivers.
According to the National Weather Service, southwest winds up to 15 knots with gusts near 20 knots are already impacting the central and southern Chesapeake Bay early Friday morning. A second round of hazardous conditions is expected by mid-morning as winds shift northwest, keeping gusts near 20 knots through at least 6 p.m.
The advisory includes popular boating zones such as the Patapsco River, Eastern Bay, and the Chester River near Queenstown. Conditions will be especially hazardous for inexperienced operators or those in smaller vessels, who are urged to delay travel until calmer conditions return tonight.
Mariners are advised to wear life jackets, monitor marine radios for updates, and stay near protected harbors if travel is unavoidable. The National Weather Service warns that additional advisories could be issued if winds strengthen again overnight.
