A powerful nor'easter named Winter Storm Riley will bring high winds and coastal flooding to portions of the northeast this weekend. High wind watches and warnings will include almost the entire I-95 urban corridor from Boston to Washington, DC, with wind gusts up to 60 mph expected in some areas. A storm warning is in effect from Friday morning through Friday afternoon.
By early Friday morning, high wind gusts will spread into the Baltimore and Washington, DC, metro areas. If your boat is currently in the water, make sure to take the necessary precautions. Canopies and hatches should be closed, and all loose materials should be stowed away. You should also double check that all lines are secure and that fenders are out.
The City of Annapolis will be offering free, emergency mooring through 4 p.m. Sunday at the transient mooring balls in the Annapolis Harbor. There are 76 mooring balls available, free of charge, on a first come, first served basis. The Capital Gazette reports that the offer is intended to "keep boats that normally anchor around Annapolis waterways from dragging anchor and causing injury or property damage." Boaters should contact the Harbormaster's Office after selecting a mooring to ensure it is designated for transient use. Boaters should use VHF 17 or call (410) 263-7973. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay National Data Buoy Center has wind and wave forecasts for the Chesapeake Bay. A synopsis of the forecast is as follows.
Chesapeake Bay, north of Pooles Island
Thursday night: SE winds 5 to 10 kt... becoming W 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 35 kt late. Waves flat... building to 2 ft after midnight. Rain.
Friday: W winds 15 kt with gusts to 40 kt... becoming NW 25 to 30 kt with gusts to 55 kt in the late morning and afternoon. Waves 4 ft. Rain or snow showers likely. Visibility 1 to 3 NM.
Friday night: NW winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts to 50 kt. Waves 3 ft. A chance of snow showers.
Saturday: NW winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 35 kt. Waves 2 ft.
Saturday night: N winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 30 kt. Waves 1 to 2 ft.
Sunday: N winds 10 to 15 kt. Waves 1 ft.
Chesapeake Bay from Pooles Island to Sandy Point
Thursday night: E winds 5 to 10 kt... becoming SW after midnight, then becoming W 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 40 kt late. Waves 1 ft... building to 3 ft after midnight. Rain.
Friday: NW winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts to 55 kt. Waves 6 ft. A chance of rain or snow showers. Vsby 1 to 3 NM.
Friday night: NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Gusts up to 55 kt... diminishing to 45 kt after midnight. Waves 5 ft. A chance of snow showers.
Saturday: NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Waves 4 ft.
Saturday night: N winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 30 kt. Waves 3 ft.
Sunday: N winds 15 to 20 kt...diminishing to 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 to 2 ft.
Patapsco River including Baltimore Harbor
Thursday night: E winds 5 kt... becoming SW after midnight, then becoming W 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 40 kt late. Waves 1 to 2 ft. Rain.
Friday: NW winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts to 55 kt. Waves 3 ft. A chance of rain or snow showers. Vsby 1 to 3 NM.
Friday night: NW winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts to 50 kt. Waves 2 to 3 ft. A chance of snow showers.
Saturday: NW winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 35 kt. Waves 2 ft.
Saturday night: NW winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 30 kt. Waves 1 to 2 ft.
Sunday: N winds 10 to 15 kt. Waves 1 ft.
Chester River to Queenstown
Thursday night: S winds 5 to 10 kt... becoming W 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 40 kt late. Waves flat... building to 3 ft after midnight. Rain.
Friday: NW winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts to 55 kt. Waves 5 ft. A chance of rain or snow showers. Vsby 1 to 3 NM.
Friday night: NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Gusts up to 55 kt... diminishing to 45 kt after midnight. Waves 6 ft... subsiding to 4 ft after midnight. A chance of rain or snow showers.
Saturday: NW winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 35 kt. Waves 4 ft.
Saturday night: N winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 30 kt. Waves 3 ft.
Sunday: N winds 10 to 15 kt. Waves 1 to 2 ft.
Chesapeake Bay from North Beach to Drum Point
Thursday night: SE winds 5 kt... becoming SW 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt after midnight, then becoming W 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 40 kt late. Waves 1 ft... building to 3 ft after midnight. Rain.
Friday: NW winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts to 55 kt. Waves 7 ft. A chance of showers.
Friday night: NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Gusts up to 55 kt... diminishing to 45 kt after midnight. Waves 6 ft.
Saturday: NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Waves 5 ft.
Saturday night: N winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 30 kt. Waves 4 ft.
Sunday: N winds 15 to 20 kt... diminishing to 10 kt after midnight. Waves 2 to 3 ft.
Chesapeake Bay from Drum Point to Smith Point
Thursday night: SW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts to 20 kt... becoming W 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 45 kt late. Waves 1 ft... building to 4 ft after midnight. Rain likely.
Friday: NW winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts to 55 kt. Waves 8 ft. A chance of showers.
Friday night: NW winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts to 55 kt. Waves 8 ft.
Saturday: N winds 25 to 30 kt. Gusts up to 45 kt... diminishing to 35 kt in the afternoon. Waves 5 ft.
Saturday night: N winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 35 kt. Waves 5 ft.
Sunday: N winds 20 to 25 kt... diminishing to 10 to 15 kt. Waves 3 ft.
Tangier Sound and the Inland Waters Surrounding Bloodsworth Island
Thursday night: SE winds 5 to 10 kt... becoming W 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 40 kt after midnight. Waves 1 ft... building to 3 ft after midnight. Rain.
Friday: NW winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts to 55 kt. Waves 5 ft. A chance of showers.
Friday night: NW winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts to 55 kt. Waves 4 ft.
Saturday: NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Waves 3 ft.
Saturday night: N winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 30 kt. Waves 3 ft.
Sunday: N winds 15 to 20 kt. Waves 2 to 3 ft.