Rain and fog Friday with gusts near 33 mph, then a gale watch on the water into Saturday
Showers are likely most of Friday, with a quarter to half an inch possible and a high near 68. A small craft advisory runs until 6 p.m., then a gale watch through Saturday evening. Afternoon high tide near 8.7 feet.
· Friday, October 16 · Updated Friday, October 16
Trust Check: Checked against public records
Friday is wet, foggy and windy, the National Weather Service says. Showers are likely most of the day, and a gale watch is posted for the bays from this evening through Saturday evening. The weekend turns dry and cooler.
The forecast
The National Weather Service in Norton expects the following in Gloucester, in its 2:29 a.m. update:
- Friday: Rain showers likely from about 8 to 10 a.m., then showers and patchy fog until about 4 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 68. South wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent, with a quarter to half an inch possible.
- Friday night: Patchy fog and showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. West wind 12 to 24 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent, with a tenth to a quarter inch possible.
- Saturday: A chance of showers before 9 a.m., then partly sunny and much cooler, with a high near 51. Northwest wind around 25 mph.
- Saturday night: Clear, with a low around 36.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 55. West wind around 7 mph.
On the water
A small craft advisory is in effect for Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay until 6 p.m. today, and a gale watch runs from this evening through 8 p.m. Saturday. Today, south winds of 15 to 20 knots with gusts up to 30 knots, seas of 2 to 3 feet, showers and patchy fog, with visibility of 1 to 3 nautical miles at times. Tonight, winds turn west at 15 to 20 knots after midnight, with gusts up to 30 knots. Saturday, northwest winds of 20 to 25 knots with gusts up to 30 knots and seas of 3 to 4 feet. The gale watch warns of gusts up to 35 knots. Winds ease Sunday.
Tides
High tides in Gloucester Harbor, according to NOAA predictions:
- Friday: 3:35 a.m. (7.8 feet) and 3:41 p.m. (8.7 feet). Low tides at 9:27 a.m. and 10:08 p.m.
- Saturday: 4:24 a.m. (7.5 feet) and 4:33 p.m. (8.4 feet). Low tides at 10:17 a.m. and 11:01 p.m.
Rockport's tides come 3 to 6 minutes earlier than Gloucester Harbor's. In the Essex River, they run from about 5 minutes earlier to 24 minutes later.
Rain and the drought
The state's drought status page still lists Cape Ann's region at Level 2, Significant Drought, declared Oct. 9. Read what the drought level means.
Gloucester's Halloween party at Stage Fort Park is now Sunday, Oct. 18, from noon to 3 p.m. Read more.
Earlier coverage: Sunny, breezy and near 58 Thursday, then rain Friday and a gale watch on the water (Oct. 15), Thursday's forecast.
Sources
- RecordNational Weather Service Boston/Norton: 7-day forecast for Gloucester, updated 2:29 a.m. Oct. 16, 2026
- RecordNational Weather Service: Coastal waters forecast, Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay (ANZ251), 4:05 a.m. Oct. 16
- RecordNational Weather Service: active alerts for ANZ251 (small craft advisory, gale watch) and MAZ007 (none), checked about 5 a.m. Oct. 16
- RecordNOAA Tides and Currents: tide predictions, Gloucester Harbor (8441841)
- RecordNOAA Tides and Currents: tide predictions, Rockport (8441551)
- RecordNOAA Tides and Currents: tide predictions, Essex (8441771)
- RecordMass.gov: Drought status (Northeast region Level 2, declared Oct. 9, 2026)
- RecordCity of Gloucester: Halloween Party, Stage Fort Park, Sunday, Oct. 18 (city calendar)
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