The National Weather Service has issued Small Craft Advisories for the Mid-Atlantic region due to increasing wind speeds.

#VAwx #NCwx #MDwx AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Wakefield VA 232 AM EDT Sun May 3 2026 MARINE As of 230 AM EDT Sunday... Key Messages: - Small Craft Advisories are in effect for all waters. Winds will continue to increase, with gusts up to 30 kt possible across most waters. - Small Craft Advisories are possible for the Chesapeake Bay late Monday night into early Tuesday due to increasing southerly winds. - There is a more widespread SCA potential beginning later Tuesday and potentially lasting through much of the mid to late week period. Early this morning, ~1000 mb low pressure is located well off the Mid Atlantic coast. Meanwhile, high pressure is building over the Ohio Valley. Low pressure will continue to deepen this morning as it tracks northeast. This setup will keep a tight pressure gradient and a surge of cold advection across the local waters through the first half of the day. NW winds range from 15 to 20 knots, with gusts ~25 knots. Winds will continue to increase over the next few hours, peaking around sunrise. Gusts up to 30 knots will be possible across a majority of the waters during this timeframe. SCAs remain in effect for all waters, ending later this morning or early afternoon depending on location. Seas are running 3 to 5 feet, while waves in the Chesapeake Bay are running 2 to 3 feet. Winds diminish later this morning into this afternoon as the high builds in from the west and the pressure gradient relaxes. High pressure becomes centered over the waters this evening into Monday morning, allowing for winds to become light and variable. Winds become southerly, but average ~10 to 15 knots for much of the day Monday. Another round of SCAs is possible, mainly for the Chesapeake Bay, Monday night into Tuesday morning as high pressure drifts offshore and low pressure develops to our northwest. Latest wind probs show ~60-80% chance for 20+ knot gusts across the Chesapeake Bay during this timeframe. A more widespread SCA potential is likely beginning Tuesday night and potentially continuing into the mid to late week period as the pressure gradient tightens. Winds start out southerly through much of Thursday, before becoming NW later Thursday into Friday behind a front.

#DCwx #MDwx #VAwx Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 336 AM EDT Sun May 3 2026 WHAT HAS CHANGED The Small Craft Advisories was expanded to include the middle portions of the Tidal Potomac. Otherwise, no major changes were made to the forecast with Freeze Warnings and Frost Advisories remaining in effect until 9AM this morning. KEY MESSAGES - 1) Freeze Warnings are in effect in the Alleghenies, Blue Ridge, and central Shenandoah Valley. Frost Advisories are in effect from central Maryland into parts of central Virginia tonight and early Sunday. - 2) A strong cold front brings widespread showers and thunderstorms midweek, followed by cooler temperatures. DISCUSSION KEY MESSAGE 1...Freeze Warnings are in effect in the Alleghenies, Blue Ridge, and central Shenandoah Valley. Frost Advisories are in effect from central Maryland into parts of central Virginia tonight and early Sunday. Freeze Warnings extend from western Maryland, into parts of northeastern West Virginia, as well as the central Shenandoah Valley until 9AM this morning. Frost Advisories extend from central Maryland, the eastern West Virginia Panhandle, and along the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge into the Virginia Piedmont. As cloud cover dissipates this morning, temperatures drop into the upper 20s to low 30s across the higher elevations and valleys along and west of the Blue Ridge. Temperatures are already in the low 30s within the Freeze Warning and are expected to cool further this morning. As high pressure shifts offshore today, temperatures through early next week. While overnight temperatures tonight will be warmer, dew points below freezing will yield possible frost for those along the highest elevations in the Alleghenies. Elsewhere, low temperatures tonight will be in the 40s for most. MARINE Small Craft Advisories remain in effect through this afternoon as northwest winds gust up to 25 knots. Winds quickly diminish this evening with winds remaining light overnight. On Monday, winds shift to southwesterly, remaining below SCA criteria through the day. SCA conditions remain likely through at least midweek, with 15 knot winds potentially increasing to 25 knots by Wednesday morning; gusts up to 30 knots will be a possibility across the bay on Wednesday. Winds continue to flow southerly during this period. TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING Tidal anomalies rise tonight into Monday morning, with sensitive tidal locations(Annapolis) nearing minor flood level during the high tide cycle Monday morning.