Marine Forecast
Illustrated map of Smith Mountain Lake

Marine forecast

Cape Charles Lt.–Virginia-North Carolina border

current wind
8 kt SE
Gusts
10 kt
Seas
2.0 ft
Period
6 sec
Air
71°F

Observed Tue 2:54 PM | ANZ656

Gusts now
10 kt
Seas now
2.0 ft · 6 sec
Air
71°F
72-hr peak
17 kt
Peak seas
3 ft

In brief

At 2:54 pm EDT on Oct 13, 2026, NDBC station CHYV2 (Cape Henry, VA, 15 miles away) measured wind from the SE at 8 kt, gusting to 10 kt; buoy 44099 measured seas of 2.0 ft. The NWS forecast for Cape Charles Lt.–Virginia-North Carolina border, VA issued at 12:41 pm EDT on Oct 13, 2026 reads, for this afternoon: “S winds 5 kt, increasing to 5 to 10 kt late. Seas 1 to 2 ft.”

Source: National Weather Service Wakefield VA forecast; NDBC observations

Wind forecast · ktPeak 17 kt

0510152025Wed 14Thu 15Fri 160510152025Wed 14Thu 15Fri 16
Sustained GustOct 13-16 | EDT

Seas forecast · ftPeak 3 ft

0123Wed 14Thu 15Fri 160123Wed 14Thu 15Fri 16
Oct 13-16 | EDT

NWS marine forecast

PeriodForecast
This AfternoonS winds 5 kt, increasing to 5 to 10 kt late. Seas 1 to 2 ft. Wave Detail: NE 2 ft at 7 seconds.
TonightS winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Seas 1 to 2 ft. Wave Detail: S 2 ft at 3 seconds and NE 2 ft at 7 seconds.
WedSW winds 10 to 15 kt, becoming S 5 to 10 kt in the afternoon. Gusts up to 20 kt. Seas 1 to 2 ft. Wave Detail: SW 2 ft at 3 seconds and E 2 ft at 6 seconds.
Wed NightSW winds 5 to 10 kt with gusts up to 15 kt. Seas 1 to 2 ft. Wave Detail: SE 2 ft at 7 seconds and S 1 foot at 3 seconds.
ThuNE winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: N 3 ft at 4 seconds.
Thu NightNE winds 10 to 15 kt, becoming SE 5 to 10 kt after midnight. Gusts up to 20 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: NE 3 ft at 6 seconds.
FriSW winds 10 to 15 kt, increasing to 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Gusts up to 25 kt. Seas around 3 ft.
Fri NightNW winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 40 kt. Seas 4 to 5 ft, occasionally to 7 ft. A chance of showers.
SatN winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 35 kt. Seas 5 to 6 ft, occasionally to 9 ft.
Sat NightN winds 25 to 30 kt, diminishing to 15 to 20 kt after midnight. Seas 5 to 6 ft, occasionally to 9 ft.

Issued Tue 12:41 PM by Wakefield VA (product CWFAKQ).

TimeWindGustSeasWater
Tue 2:54 PM 8 kt SE 10 kt — —
Tue 1:54 PM 7 kt ESE 9 kt — —
Tue 12:54 PM 8 kt ESE 9 kt — —
Tue 11:54 AM 4 kt ENE 4 kt — —
Tue 10:54 AM 2 kt SSW 4 kt — —
Tue 9:54 AM 3 kt W 4 kt — —
Tue 8:54 AM 3 kt W 6 kt — —
Tue 7:54 AM 5 kt W 6 kt — —
Tue 6:54 AM 5 kt W 6 kt — —
Tue 5:54 AM 5 kt W 6 kt — —
Tue 4:54 AM 7 kt W 9 kt — —
Tue 3:54 AM 7 kt WSW 9 kt — —

Observed Tue 2:54 PM at NDBC buoy CHYV2 (Cape Henry, VA), 14.9 miles away. Seas from buoy 44099 (Cape Henry, VA (147)), 6.7 miles away, at Tue 2:56 PM.

What is the marine forecast for Cape Charles Lt.–Virginia-North Carolina border today?

This Afternoon: S winds 5 kt, increasing to 5 to 10 kt late. Seas 1 to 2 ft. Wave Detail: NE 2 ft at 7 seconds.

Is there a small craft advisory for Cape Charles Lt.–Virginia-North Carolina border?

No advisories, warnings or watches are in effect for NWS zone ANZ656 as of the last update on this page. Advisories can be issued at any time; check the current bulletin before leaving the dock.

How high are the waves at Cape Charles Lt.–Virginia-North Carolina border right now?

Seas are running 2.0 ft at a 6-second period, measured at NDBC buoy CHYV2 Tue 2:54 PM, 14.9 miles from this zone. The forecast peaks at 3.0 ft Thu 10 AM.

What do the wind speeds in knots mean?

One knot is 1.15 mph. The National Weather Service issues a small craft advisory for sustained winds of roughly 22–33 knots or hazardous seas, a gale warning at 34–47 knots, and a storm warning at 48 knots and above. Exact advisory thresholds vary by forecast office and by water body — a bay reaches dangerous chop at a lower wind speed than open ocean.

Where does this forecast come from?

The forecast text is the National Weather Service's own marine bulletin for zone ANZ656, issued by Wakefield VA, reproduced in full. The wind and seas charts are drawn from the NWS gridded forecast for a point inside the zone. Observations come from the nearest reporting NDBC buoy. We are not affiliated with NOAA or the National Weather Service.

Forecast: NOAA/NWS product CWFAKQ, issued Tue 12:41 PM. Observations: NOAA National Data Buoy Center station CHYV2, read Tue 2:54 PM. Retrieved Oct 13, 3:42 PM. Conditions offshore change faster than any page can be rebuilt, so check the current NWS bulletin and your own instruments before going out.