Special Marine Warning Issued for Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point to Windmill Point VA

Source: NOAA · Chesapeake Bay, Virginia

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NWS Wakefield VA has issued a Special Marine Warning for Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point to Windmill Point VA until 12:15 AM EDT August 23 due to severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Special Marine Warning
Affected area
Chesapeake Bay, Virginia
Issued
August 23, 2026
Issuing authority
NWS Wakefield VA

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 has been issued by the National Weather Service in Wakefield VA. The alert is effective from August 22 at 10:53 PM EDT until August 23 at 12:15 AM EDT.

Affected Areas

Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point to Windmill Point VA. Locations impacted include Smith Point, Onancock Inlet, Lower Bernard Island, Nandua Pungoteague Reef, Watts Island, San Marcos Wreck, Tangier Island, Northern Neck Reef, Anglers Reef, and Crisfield.

What You Should Do

Move to safe harbor until hazardous weather passes.

Expected Conditions

Severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts were located along a line extending from Northern Neck Reef to Onancock Inlet, moving northeast at 20 knots. Hazards include waterspouts and wind gusts 34 knots or greater.

Timeline

The warning is in effect from 2026-08-22T22:53:00-04:00 until 2026-08-23T00:15:00-04:00.

Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NWS weather alert.

What is this NWS weather alert about?
NWS Wakefield VA has issued a Special Marine Warning for Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point to Windmill Point VA until 12:15 AM EDT August 23 due to severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts.
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, 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.