Marine Weather Net

Albemarle Sound Marine Forecast


TONIGHT

SW
WINDS
10 - 15
KNOTS

FRI

W
WINDS
10 - 15
KNOTS

FRI NIGHT

SW
WINDS
10 - 15
KNOTS

SAT

W
WINDS
10 - 15
KNOTS

The Marine Weather Forecast In Detail:
AMZ230 Forecast Issued: 325 PM EDT Thu Jul 09 2026

Tonight...Sw Winds 10 To 15 Kt. Waves Around 2 Ft. A Slight Chance Of Showers And Tstms Until Early Morning.
Fri...W Winds 10 To 15 Kt. Waves Around 2 Ft In The Morning, Then 1 Ft.
Fri Night...Sw Winds 10 To 15 Kt. Waves 1 Ft Or Less, Then Around 2 Ft After Midnight.
Sat...W Winds 10 To 15 Kt. Waves Around 2 Ft In The Morning, Then 1 Ft. Showers And Tstms Likely In The Afternoon.
Sat Night...Nw Winds 5 To 10 Kt. Waves 1 Ft Or Less. Showers Likely. A Chance Of Tstms, Mainly In The Evening.
Sun...Ne Winds 10 To 15 Kt. Waves Around 2 Ft. A Chance Of Showers. A Chance Of Tstms In The Afternoon.
Sun Night...Ne Winds Around 15 Kt. Waves Around 2 Ft. A Chance Of Showers And Tstms In The Evening.
Mon...Ne Winds 15 To 20 Kt. Waves Around 2 Ft.
Mon Night...Ne Winds 10 To 15 Kt. Waves Around 2 Ft.
Tue...Ne Winds 10 To 15 Kt. Waves Around 2 Ft.
Tue Night...E Winds 5 To 10 Kt, Becoming Sw After Midnight. Waves 1 Ft Or Less. Winds And Waves Higher In And Near Tstms.
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Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
327pm EDT Thu July 9 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED... Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for the northern half of the area for this afternoon.

Marginal risk of severe weather has been added across the Piedmont stretching up towards the MD Eastern Shore for tomorrow.

.KEY MESSAGES... 1) Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon especially across the Northern Neck and Eastern Shore.

2) Showers and Thunderstorms continue Friday and Saturday with normal to slightly above average temperatures.

3) Slightly below temps are possible through the first half of the week before warmer temperatures potentially return by the end of the week.

As of 327pm EDT Thursday... KEY MESSAGE 1...Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon especially across the Northern Neck and Eastern Shore.

Afternoon weather analysis shows multiple subtle shortwaves aloft at 700mb. While at the surface, there are multiple boundaries located across the Piedmont stretching down towards southern VA. Showers and thunderstorms have started to initiate along these boundaries as of 2:30pm. These showers and storms have the potential to become severe as a hot and humid atmosphere is in place with temperatures soaring into the upper 80s and low 90s and dew points in the low to middle 70s. In addition, there is some weak shear in place ~30-40kt of bulk-shear across the area with the highest values located across I- 64 north and the Eastern Shore. This is where the Severe Thunderstorm Watch is currently placed. Through the rest of the afternoon and into this evening CAMS show these storms strengthening through time across the north potentially producing a strong to severe wind gust. Will also note there is a risk for the potential of flash flooding across the north given the sub-tropical airmass in place. However, storms will need to train over the same area continuously as storm motion is too fast. Now the storm threat across the south for this afternoon/evening is low but there continues to remain a threat. If storms are able to maintain themselves the atmosphere is primed for a strong to severe wind gust given surface temps are slightly warmer allowing Dcape values nearing ~1000J/kg. However, coverage remains to low for a watch and shear is slightly weaker causing storms to struggle to maintain themselves. By late this evening and early tomorrow morning storms will have moved off shore and skies will begin to clear.

As mentioned earlier a sub-tropical airmass is in place across the area. With the persisting cloud cover temps have struggled to reach into the low 90s across the piedmont but with the modest to high dews in place heat indices are in the middle to upper 90s. Across the SE daytime heating and less clouds have allowed temps to reach into the low 90s and heat indices are hovering around the upper 90s and lower 100s across SE VA and around 105 across NC where the Heat Advisory remains in effect through this afternoon. For tonight t he areas that receive rain will have a slightly cooler night with lows in the upper 60s while elsewhere will have lows in the low to middle 70s and potential upper 70s along the coast.

KEY MESSAGE 2...Showers and Thunderstorms continue Friday and Saturday with normal to slightly above average temperatures.

Showers and thunderstorms are possible again Friday but there continues to remain the question of coverage intensity. Model guidance continues to show on subtle shortwaves moving across the area by Friday afternoon/evening. These short-waves will help initiate showers/thunderstorms. However, guidance continues to show downsloping occuring across the area which will help mix out the dewpoints and give less instability across the area. This will help keep storm coverage more isolated in nature and the severe risk looks to be very marginal if a storm is able to maintain itself. With the downsloping this will, however, allow temps to soar into the low to middle 90s across the area. Heat Indices will be in the upper 90s along and west of I-95 and upper 90s to lower 100s to the east, but will remain below Heat Advisory criteria. For Saturday, showers and thunderstorms chances continue as a cold front pushes through the area. There remains multiple threats for the day with the potential of strong to severe wind gust and locally heavy rainfall with rich moisture and PW values (Precipitable Water values) 120- 140% of normal. Saturday will be near normal with highs in the upper 80s to low 90s.

KEY MESSAGE 3...Slightly below temps are possible through the first half of the week before warmer temperatures potentially return by the end of the week.

Models continue to show a drier pattern returning to the area by the Sunday as high pressure returns to the region. The high will also usher in slightly below temperatures with highs nearing the low 80s and lows in the low to middle 60s. By the middle of next week, the recent ensemble guidance shows an upper ridge building over the upper Midwest and pivoting into the Mid- Atlantic. This will potentially allow temps to bounce back into the upper 80s to low 90s. In terms of rain chances, they remain quite low next week as models hint on a drier pattern.

Marine
As of 327pm EDT Thursday... Key Messages:

- Elevated onshore flow develops Sunday into Monday with Small Craft Advisory conditions possible.

- There is a moderate risk for rip currents today across all area beaches.

- A Coastal Flood Statement has been issued for this evening's high tide across portions of the middle Ches Bay and Potomac River.

Latest surface depicted light S/SE winds around 10 kt across the local waters. Winds become W this evening into tonight. This diurnal pattern continues Fri with light S/SSE winds during the day becoming SW overnight. A cold front crosses the local waters Sat, allowing winds to become N behind the front. High pressure builds in from the north behind the front early next week. As it does so, the pressure gradient between the high to the north and a weak surface low along a stationary front to the south should allow for a strong enough pressure gradient for a prolonged period of elevated onshore flow from Sunday through Mon. During this time, NE/ENE winds of 15-20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt are possible. Additionally, seas build to 4-5 ft with 3-4 ft waves possible across the lower Ches Bay. As such, SCAs (Small Craft Advisories) may be needed. Winds diminish Monday night as the high builds in with generally benign marine conditions returning.

A moderate risk for rip currents continues today across all area beaches with a low risk for rip currents on Fri and Sat. Additionally, nuisance to perhaps locally minor coastal flooding is possible across the middle Ches Bay with this evening's high tide. As such, have issued a Coastal Flood Statement for the Lower MD Eastern Shore bordering the Ches Bay and the counties on the southern side of the Potomac River.

Equipment
Repairs have been completed in the KAKQ radar and it is currently in service. However, some additional downtime will be needed this morning for some additional maintenance.

NOAA Wakefield VA Office: Watches - Warnings - Advisories
MD...None. NC...
Heat Advisory until 7pm EDT this evening for NCZ015>017-031- 032. VA...None.

Marine
None.