BOSTON, Mass. – A powerful burst of northwesterly winds is hammering East Coast waters from the Mid-Atlantic to Maine this morning, with Gale Warnings in effect on the Chesapeake Bay, Long Island Sound and south shore ocean waters, Rhode Island and Block Island Sounds, Cape Cod/Mass/Ipswich Bays, and the Downeast Maine coastal waters. Mariners face 25–40 kt winds with gusts 45–50 kt and seas building 5–15 ft, highest south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
According to the National Weather Service offices in Baltimore/Washington (LWX), New York (OKX), Boston/Norton (BOX), Gray, ME (GYX), and Caribou, ME (CAR), gale conditions persist through this morning, easing to Small Craft levels by late morning or early afternoon for many zones, while Downeast Maine remains hazardous into tonight. BOX canceled prior Storm Warnings, but maintained Gales until ~1 p.m. for Boston Harbor, Narragansett Bay, Nantucket and Block Island Sounds, and waters south of the Cape, where seas 10–15 ft and gusts to 50 kt can still batter small craft.
In the New York marine zones, Gale Warnings through 9 a.m. coincide with a Low Water Advisory early this morning, creating abnormally low tides and tricky navigation in NY Harbor, South Shore bays, Long Island Sound, and Peconic/Gardiners Bays. On the Chesapeake Bay and tidal Potomac, gales diminish after sunrise, transitioning to 25 kt gusts through mid-morning. Along the Maine coast, GYX holds gales until noon, and CAR keeps Downeast gales into this evening with 6–9 ft seas.
Mariner actions today: remain in port if possible, secure lines and loose gear, avoid bar crossings, and monitor channel depths during low water in the NY area. If underway, wear flotation, keep engines ready, and alter course for safer fetch.
