Special Marine Warning Issued for Chesapeake Bay Areas

Source: NOAA · Chesapeake Bay, Maryland and Virginia

If you are in immediate danger, call emergency services now.

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NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC has issued a Special Marine Warning for Chesapeake Bay from Drum Point MD to Smith Point VA and Tangier Sound until 1:45 AM EDT.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Special Marine Warning
Affected area
Chesapeake Bay, Maryland and Virginia
Issued
September 4, 2026
Issuing authority
NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC

Marine notices apply to named waters or shoreline zones. They may not describe conditions on land, even when the nearest place name is the same.

Record status: publication date is recent, but current status is not stored on this page. Check the issuing agency's live warning service before acting because warnings can be updated, narrowed, or cancelled.

Alert Details

A Special Marine Warning was issued by the National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia (NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC) at 12:18 AM EDT on September 4, 2026. The alert is effective from 12:18 AM EDT until 1:45 AM EDT.

Affected Areas

The warning covers Chesapeake Bay from Drum Point MD to Smith Point VA and Tangier Sound and the inland waters surrounding Bloodsworth Island. Locations impacted include Ewell, Point Lookout, Tangier Sound, Smith Island, Deep Hole, Southwest Middle Grounds, Crisfield, and Deal Island.

What You Should Do

Move to safe harbor until hazardous weather passes. Boaters in small craft should be aware that suddenly higher winds and waves could capsize their vessel.

Expected Conditions

A strong thunderstorm was located over the Mouth of the Potomac River, moving east at 25 knots. Radar indicated wind gusts of 34 knots or greater.

Timeline

The alert is in effect from September 4, 2026 at 12:18 AM EDT until September 4, 2026 at 1:45 AM EDT.

Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗

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Nationwide notices with similar length or severity timing 8

Two Areazine-derived peer sets for this NWS weather alert: nearest notices by body length and by same severity near the same agency date. Peers come from other categories so they are not the same-feed Related list above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NWS weather alert.

What is this NWS weather alert about?
NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC has issued a Special Marine Warning for Chesapeake Bay from Drum Point MD to Smith Point VA and Tangier Sound until 1:45 AM EDT.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by NOAA. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Chesapeake Bay, Maryland and Virginia. Check with NOAA for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Weather Alerts updates?
Browse the full Weather Alerts feed on Areazine at areazine.com/weather/ for the latest updates from NOAA and other agencies.