Cliffs Point, MD Coastal Forecast

FZUS51 KLWX 182358
CWFLWX

Coastal Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
658 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

Tidal Potomac River and Maryland portion of Chesapeake Bay.

Forecasts of wave heights do not include effects of wind direction
relative to tidal currents. Expect higher waves when winds are
blowing against the tidal flow. Waves flat where waters are iced over.

ANZ500-190900-
658 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

.SYNOPSIS FOR THE TIDAL POTOMAC AND MD PORTION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY...

High-end Small Craft Advisory conditions are likely with strong
southerly winds tonight ahead of a strong cold frontal passage.
Gales will be possible early Friday morning as a line of heavy
showers moves over the waters with the actual front. After a brief
lull behind this line, strong post-frontal winds are expected Friday
afternoon into the evening as well. Gales are expected, with the
strongest winds most likely north of North Beach MD and in the upper
tidal Potomac River. A brief break in winds is expected for the
first half of Saturday, but strong southerly winds Saturday night
will likely necessitate Small Craft Advisories once again. More
Small Craft Advisories are likely Sunday in northwest flow.

$$

ANZ535-190900-
Tidal Potomac from Key Bridge to Indian Head-
658 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EST FRIDAY THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming S 15 kt with gusts to
25 kt after midnight. Waves 1 to 2 ft. Rain. Vsby 1 to 3 NM.
.FRI...S winds 15 kt with gusts to 25 kt...becoming W with gusts to
45 kt in the late morning and afternoon. Waves 2 ft. Rain. Vsby 1 to
3 NM.
.FRI NIGHT...W winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 45 kt... becoming NW
5 to 10 kt with gusts to 30 kt in the late evening and overnight.
Waves 1 to 2 ft.
.SAT...SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds 5 to 10 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.SUN...W winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 25 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.MON...W winds around 5 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TUE...SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.

$$

ANZ536-190900-
Tidal Potomac from Indian Head to Cobb Island-
658 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EST FRIDAY THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt... becoming S
20 kt with gusts to 25 kt after midnight. Waves 1 to 2 ft. Rain.
Vsby 1 to 3 NM.
.FRI...S winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 25 kt... becoming W 20 to
25 kt with gusts to 40 kt in the late morning and afternoon. Waves
2 ft. Rain likely. Vsby 1 to 3 NM.
.FRI NIGHT...W winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 35 kt... becoming NW
5 kt. Waves 1 to 2 ft.
.SAT...S winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 1 to
2 ft.
.SUN...W winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 10 to 15 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.MON...NW winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming S. Waves 1 ft.
.TUE...SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft. A chance of rain in the
morning.

$$

ANZ537-190900-
Tidal Potomac from Cobb Island to Smith Point-
658 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EST FRIDAY THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE winds 15 to 20 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt... increasing to
30 kt late. Waves 2 to 3 ft...building to 4 ft late. A chance of
rain this evening, then rain after midnight with vsby 1 to 3 NM.
.FRI...S winds 20 kt with gusts to 25 kt...becoming W with gusts to
35 kt in the late morning and afternoon. Waves 3 ft. Rain. Vsby 1 to
3 NM.
.FRI NIGHT...NW winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 35 kt...diminishing
to 5 to 10 kt with gusts to 20 kt after midnight. Waves 4 ft...
subsiding to 2 ft after midnight.
.SAT...SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 25 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.SUN...W winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.MON...NW winds 10 to 15 kt...becoming SW 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 to
2 ft.
.TUE...SW winds 10 to 15 kt...becoming W after midnight. Waves 1 to
2 ft. A chance of rain in the morning.

$$

ANZ530-190900-
Chesapeake Bay north of Pooles Island-
658 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EST FRIDAY THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming S 20 kt with gusts to
30 kt after midnight. Waves 1 to 2 ft. A chance of rain this
evening, then rain after midnight with vsby 1 to 3 NM.
.FRI...S winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 30 kt... becoming W 20 to
25 kt with gusts to 40 kt in the late morning and afternoon. Waves
2 to 3 ft. Rain. Vsby 1 to 3 NM.
.FRI NIGHT...W winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 40 kt... diminishing
to 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 25 kt after midnight. Waves 2 to 3 ft.
.SAT...SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...S winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 1 to
2 ft.
.SUN...W winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.MON...W winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming S after midnight. Waves 1 ft.
.TUE...SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft. A chance of rain and snow in
the morning.

$$

ANZ531-190900-
Chesapeake Bay from Pooles Island to Sandy Point-
658 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EST FRIDAY THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt... becoming S
20 to 25 kt with gusts to 30 kt after midnight. Waves 1 to 2 ft...
building to 3 ft after midnight. A chance of rain this evening, then
rain after midnight with vsby 1 to 3 NM.
.FRI...S winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 30 kt... becoming W 25 to
30 kt with gusts to 45 kt in the late morning and afternoon. Waves
4 ft. Rain. Vsby 1 to 3 NM.
.FRI NIGHT...W winds 25 to 30 kt...diminishing to 10 to 15 kt with
gusts to 25 kt after midnight. Waves 3 ft.
.SAT...W winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming S 10 to 15 kt in the afternoon.
Waves 1 to 2 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds 15 to 20 kt. Waves 3 ft.
.SUN...W winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.MON...NW winds 10 to 15 kt...becoming SW 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TUE...S winds 10 to 15 kt...becoming W. Waves 1 to 2 ft. A chance
of rain and snow in the morning.

$$

ANZ538-190900-
Patapsco River including Baltimore Harbor-
658 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EST FRIDAY THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming S 15 to 20 kt with gusts
to 25 kt after midnight. Waves 1 to 2 ft. Rain. Vsby 1 to 3 NM after
midnight.
.FRI...S winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 25 kt... becoming W 20 to
25 kt with gusts to 45 kt in the late morning and afternoon. Waves
2 to 3 ft. Rain. Vsby 1 to 3 NM.
.FRI NIGHT...W winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 40 kt... diminishing
to 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt after midnight. Waves 3 ft...
subsiding to 1 ft after midnight.
.SAT...SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds 5 to 10 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.SUN...W winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 5 to 10 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.MON...W winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming S after midnight. Waves 1 ft or
less.
.TUE...SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft. A chance of rain and snow in
the morning.

$$

ANZ539-190900-
Chester River to Queenstown MD-
658 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EST FRIDAY THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt... becoming S
20 to 25 kt with gusts to 30 kt after midnight. Waves 1 to 2 ft...
building to 3 ft late. A chance of rain this evening, then rain
after midnight with vsby 1 to 3 NM.
.FRI...S winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 30 kt... becoming W with
gusts to 40 kt in the late morning and afternoon. Waves 3 ft. Rain.
Vsby 1 to 3 NM.
.FRI NIGHT...W winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 40 kt... diminishing
to 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 25 kt after midnight. Waves 3 ft.
.SAT...W winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming S in the afternoon. Waves 1 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...S winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.SUN...W winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.MON...NW winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming S after midnight. Waves 1 to
2 ft.
.TUE...SW winds 10 to 15 kt...becoming W after midnight. Waves 1 to
2 ft. A chance of rain in the morning.

$$

ANZ532-190900-
Chesapeake Bay from Sandy Point to North Beach-
658 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EST FRIDAY THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE winds 10 kt...becoming S 20 to 25 kt with gusts to
30 kt late this evening and overnight. Waves 2 to 3 ft...building to
4 ft after midnight. A chance of rain this evening, then rain after
midnight with vsby 1 to 3 NM.
.FRI...S winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 30 kt... becoming W 25 to
30 kt in the late morning and afternoon. Waves 4 ft. Rain. Vsby 1 to
3 NM.
.FRI NIGHT...W winds 25 to 30 kt...diminishing to 15 to 20 kt with
gusts to 30 kt in the late evening and overnight. Waves 4 ft...
subsiding to 2 ft after midnight.
.SAT...W winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming S 10 to 15 kt in the afternoon.
Waves 1 to 2 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 25 kt. Waves 3 ft.
.SUN...W winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 15 to 20 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.MON...NW winds 10 to 15 kt...becoming SW. Waves 1 to 2 ft.
.TUE...SW winds 10 to 15 kt...becoming W after midnight. Waves 1 to
2 ft. A chance of rain in the morning.

$$

ANZ540-190900-
Eastern Bay-
658 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EST FRIDAY THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt... becoming S
20 to 25 kt with gusts to 30 kt after midnight. Waves 1 to 2 ft...
building to 3 ft late. A chance of rain this evening, then rain
after midnight with vsby 1 to 3 NM.
.FRI...S winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 30 kt... becoming W with
gusts to 40 kt in the late morning and afternoon. Waves 3 ft. Rain.
Vsby 1 to 3 NM.
.FRI NIGHT...W winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 40 kt... becoming NW
10 to 15 kt with gusts to 25 kt after midnight. Waves 2 to 3 ft.
.SAT...W winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming S 10 to 15 kt in the afternoon.
Waves 1 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...S winds 15 to 20 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.SUN...W winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 1 to
2 ft.
.MON...NW winds 10 to 15 kt...becoming SW 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.TUE...SW winds 10 to 15 kt...becoming W after midnight. Waves 1 to
2 ft. A chance of rain in the morning.

$$

ANZ533-190900-
Chesapeake Bay from North Beach to Drum Point-
658 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EST FRIDAY THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 25 kt... becoming S
25 kt with gusts to 30 kt after midnight. Waves 2 to 3 ft...building
to 4 ft after midnight. A chance of rain this evening, then rain
after midnight with vsby 1 to 3 NM.
.FRI...S winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 30 kt... becoming W 25 to
30 kt in the late morning and afternoon. Waves 4 ft. Rain. Vsby 1 to
3 NM.
.FRI NIGHT...W winds 25 to 30 kt...becoming NW 15 to 20 kt with
gusts to 30 kt in the late evening and overnight. Waves 5 ft...
subsiding to 3 ft after midnight.
.SAT...W winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming S 10 to 15 kt in the afternoon.
Gusts up to 20 kt. Waves 1 to 2 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 25 kt. Waves 3 ft.
.SUN...W winds 15 to 20 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 15 to 20 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.MON...NW winds 10 to 15 kt...becoming SW. Waves 1 to 2 ft.
.TUE...SW winds 10 to 15 kt...becoming W after midnight. Waves 1 to
2 ft. A chance of rain in the morning.

$$

ANZ541-190900-
Choptank River to Cambridge MD and the Little Choptank River-
658 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EST FRIDAY THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE winds 10 kt...becoming S 20 to 25 kt with gusts to
30 kt late this evening and overnight. Waves 1 to 2 ft...building to
3 ft after midnight. A chance of rain this evening, then rain after
midnight with vsby 1 to 3 NM.
.FRI...S winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 30 kt... becoming W 25 to
30 kt in the late morning and afternoon. Waves 3 ft. Rain. Vsby 1 to
3 NM.
.FRI NIGHT...W winds 25 to 30 kt...becoming NW 15 to 20 kt with
gusts to 30 kt in the late evening and overnight. Waves 4 ft...
subsiding to 2 ft after midnight.
.SAT...NW winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming S 10 to 15 kt in the
afternoon. Waves 1 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...S winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 25 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.SUN...W winds 15 to 20 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 15 to 20 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.MON...NW winds 10 to 15 kt...becoming SW. Waves 1 to 2 ft.
.TUE...SW winds 10 to 15 kt...becoming W after midnight. Waves 1 to
2 ft. A chance of rain in the morning.

$$

ANZ542-190900-
Patuxent River to Broomes Island MD-
658 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EST FRIDAY THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt... becoming S
20 kt with gusts to 25 kt after midnight. Waves 1 ft. A chance of
rain this evening, then rain after midnight with vsby 1 to 3 NM.
.FRI...S winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 25 kt... becoming W 20 to
25 kt with gusts to 35 kt in the late morning and afternoon. Waves
1 to 2 ft. Rain. Vsby 1 to 3 NM.
.FRI NIGHT...W winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 35 kt... becoming NW
10 to 15 kt with gusts to 25 kt in the late evening and overnight.
Waves 1 ft.
.SAT...W winds 5 kt...becoming S in the afternoon. Waves 1 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.SUN...W winds 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 10 kt. Waves 1 ft.
.MON...NW winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming S after midnight. Waves 1 ft.
.TUE...SW winds 10 to 15 kt...becoming W 5 to 10 kt after midnight.
Waves 1 ft. A chance of rain in the morning.

$$

ANZ534-190900-
Chesapeake Bay from Drum Point to Smith Point-
658 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 30 kt... becoming S
25 kt with gusts to 35 kt after midnight. Waves 2 ft...building to
4 ft late this evening and overnight. A chance of rain this evening,
then rain after midnight with vsby 1 NM or less.
.FRI...S winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 30 kt... becoming W 25 to
30 kt in the late morning and afternoon. Waves 5 ft. Rain. Vsby 1 to
3 NM.
.FRI NIGHT...NW winds 25 to 30 kt...diminishing to 15 to 20 kt with
gusts to 30 kt in the late evening and overnight. Waves 5 ft...
subsiding to 3 ft after midnight.
.SAT...NW winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming S 10 to 15 kt in the
afternoon. Waves 1 to 2 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...S winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 25 kt. Waves 3 ft.
.SUN...W winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 2 to 3 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 15 to 20 kt. Waves 3 ft.
.MON...NW winds 15 to 20 kt...diminishing to 5 to 10 kt in the
afternoon and evening, then becoming S after midnight. Waves 2 to
3 ft...subsiding to 1 ft.
.TUE...SW winds 10 to 15 kt...becoming W after midnight. Waves 2 to
3 ft. A chance of rain through the day.

$$

ANZ543-190900-
Tangier Sound and the inland waters surrounding Bloodsworth Island-
658 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 30 kt... becoming S
25 kt with gusts to 35 kt after midnight. Waves 1 to 2 ft...building
to 3 ft after midnight. A chance of rain this evening, then rain
after midnight with vsby 1 NM or less.
.FRI...S winds 20 to 25 kt...becoming W 25 to 30 kt in the late
morning and afternoon. Gusts up to 35 kt until late afternoon. Waves
3 ft. Rain. Vsby 1 to 3 NM.
.FRI NIGHT...NW winds 25 to 30 kt...diminishing to 15 to 20 kt with
gusts to 30 kt in the late evening and overnight. Waves 2 to 3 ft.
.SAT...NW winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming S 10 to 15 kt in the
afternoon. Waves 1 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...S winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 25 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.SUN...W winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt. Waves 1 to 2 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 15 to 20 kt. Waves 2 ft.
.MON...NW winds 10 to 15 kt...becoming W 5 kt in the evening, then
becoming S after midnight. Waves 1 to 2 ft.
.TUE...SW winds 10 to 15 kt...becoming W after midnight. Waves 1 to
2 ft. A chance of rain through the day.

$$