Atlantic City, NJ – Mariners along the New Jersey and Delaware coasts are being urged to remain in port as the National Weather Service in Mount Holly has extended a Gale Warning through 6 p.m. Wednesday, with hazardous seas and powerful winds expected to persist.
Forecasters warn of northeast winds between 20 and 30 knots, with gusts up to 35 knots, producing waves of 6 to 11 feet offshore and rough conditions in Delaware Bay. The warning area stretches from Sandy Hook, NJ, to Fenwick Island, DE, including Cape May, Great Egg Inlet, Manasquan Inlet, and Slaughter Beach.
The strong onshore flow will make conditions dangerous for small craft, with the potential for capsizing, visibility reduction, and vessel damage. Mariners are advised to delay departures, secure moorings, and seek safe harbor until the gale subsides.
The NWS also noted that additional periods of gale-force winds may return later this week as the coastal low remains offshore, keeping waters unsettled into Thursday.
