Special Marine Warning Issued for Tidal Potomac Areas
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A Special Marine Warning is in effect until 5:30 PM EDT for the Tidal Potomac from Indian Head to Smith Point due to a strong thunderstorm with wind gusts of 34 knots or greater.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Special Marine Warning
- Affected area
- Tidal Potomac River, Maryland and Virginia
- Issued
- August 3, 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 has been issued by the National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC. The alert is effective from August 3, 2026 at 4:37 PM EDT until August 3, 2026 at 5:30 PM EDT.
Affected Areas
Tidal Potomac from Indian Head to Cobb Island MD; Tidal Potomac from Cobb Island MD to Smith Point VA. Locations impacted include Breton Bay, Cobb Island, Swan Point, Coltons Point, Saint Clements Bay, Coles Point, Westmoreland State Park, Wicomico River, White Point Beach, and Colonial Beach.
What You Should Do
Move to safe harbor until hazardous weather passes. Boaters in small craft could be thrown overboard by suddenly higher winds and waves capsizing their vessel.
Expected Conditions
A strong thunderstorm was located 7 nm west of Colonial Beach, moving east at 10 knots. Hazard includes wind gusts 34 knots or greater, as indicated by radar.
Timeline
The warning is in effect from 4:37 PM EDT to 5:30 PM EDT on August 3, 2026.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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