Marine Forecast
Illustrated map of Smith Mountain Lake

Marine forecast

Parramore Island to Cape Charles Light, VA

current wind
11 kt S
Gusts
12 kt
Seas
1.6 ft
Period
16 sec
72-hr peak
17 kt

Observed Tue 3:00 PM | ANZ654

Gusts now
12 kt
Seas now
1.6 ft · 16 sec
72-hr peak
17 kt

In brief

At 3:00 pm EDT on Oct 13, 2026, NDBC station RPLV2 (Rappahannock Light, VA, 14 miles away) measured wind from the S at 11 kt, gusting to 12 kt; buoy 44058 measured seas of 1.6 ft. The NWS forecast for Parramore Island to Cape Charles Light, VA issued at 12:41 pm EDT on Oct 13, 2026 reads, for this afternoon: “S winds 5 to 10 kt. 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

NWS marine forecast

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

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

TimeWindGustSeasWater
Tue 3:00 PM 11 kt S 12 kt — —
Tue 2:54 PM 12 kt S 13 kt — —
Tue 1:54 PM 11 kt S 12 kt — —
Tue 12:54 PM 10 kt S 11 kt — —
Tue 11:54 AM 7 kt SSW 9 kt — —
Tue 10:54 AM 6 kt SW 7 kt — —
Tue 9:54 AM 5 kt SW 6 kt — —
Tue 8:54 AM 4 kt WSW 5 kt — —
Tue 7:54 AM 5 kt W 6 kt — —
Tue 6:54 AM 6 kt WSW 8 kt — —
Tue 5:54 AM 8 kt W 8 kt — —
Tue 4:54 AM 7 kt W 8 kt — —

Observed Tue 3:00 PM at NDBC buoy RPLV2 (Rappahannock Light, VA), 14.3 miles away. Seas from buoy 44058 (Stingray Point, VA), 27.0 miles away, at Tue 3:00 PM.

What is the marine forecast for Parramore Island to Cape Charles Light today?

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

Is there a small craft advisory for Parramore Island to Cape Charles Light?

No advisories, warnings or watches are in effect for NWS zone ANZ654 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 Parramore Island to Cape Charles Light right now?

Seas are running 1.6 ft at a 16-second period, measured at NDBC buoy RPLV2 Tue 3:00 PM, 14.3 miles from this zone.

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 ANZ654, 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 RPLV2, read Tue 3:00 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.