Washington, DC – The National Weather Service has issued widespread Gale Warnings for offshore waters from Cape Fear, North Carolina, to the Gulf of Maine, with dangerous wind gusts and waves nearing 20 feet expected through Sunday night.
According to the NWS Ocean Prediction Center, southerly winds of 20 to 35 knots are shifting northward today before intensifying late week. Seas are forecast to build from 4–8 feet Wednesday to more than 18 feet by Sunday, especially east of Georges Bank and off the Carolina coast.
Forecasters warn that hazardous marine conditions will persist through the weekend, with sustained winds between 30 and 45 knots and potential for higher gusts near thunderstorms. Mariners can expect rapidly building seas, particularly in zones ANZ810 through ANZ935, where storm-force gusts could develop by late Saturday.
By Sunday, conditions will deteriorate further across the western North Atlantic, with the heaviest impacts east of 69°W and near Hatteras Canyon to Cape Fear, where seas could exceed 22 feet.
The Ocean Prediction Center advises mariners, especially those operating commercial or fishing vessels, to monitor updates closely and avoid open waters during peak conditions.
