Cloudy, breezy Wednesday near 52, then a gale watch for the bays Thursday afternoon into Friday
A steady northeast wind of 16 to 20 mph today and around 20 mph tonight. Partly sunny Thursday near 58. A small craft advisory runs through Thursday afternoon, then a gale watch through Friday afternoon. Evening high tide near 8.3 feet.
· Wednesday, October 21 · Updated Wednesday, October 21
Trust Check: Checked against public records
Wednesday stays cloudy and breezy, the National Weather Service says, with a high near 52. The wind turns stronger on the water later this week: a gale watch is posted for the bays from Thursday afternoon into Friday afternoon.
The forecast
The National Weather Service in Norton expects the following in Gloucester, in its 2:32 a.m. Wednesday update:
- Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Northeast wind 16 to 20 mph.
- Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Northeast wind around 20 mph.
- Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 58. North wind 10 to 20 mph.
- Thursday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. North wind 12 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
On the water
A small craft advisory is in effect for Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay until 5 p.m. Thursday. A gale watch follows, from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon. A gale watch means gale force winds, 34 knots or more, are possible.
Today and tonight, northeast winds of 20 to 25 knots with gusts up to 30 knots and seas of 5 to 7 feet. Thursday, north winds of 20 to 25 knots with gusts up to 30 knots and seas of 5 to 7 feet. Thursday night, north winds of 25 to 30 knots and seas of 4 to 6 feet. Winds ease Friday afternoon and evening, and the weekend looks calm, with west and southwest winds of 5 to 10 knots.
Tides
High tides in Gloucester Harbor, according to NOAA predictions:
- Wednesday: 8:09 a.m. (7.8 feet) and 8:24 p.m. (8.3 feet). Low tides at 1:49 a.m. and 2:08 p.m.
- Thursday: 8:57 a.m. (8.2 feet) and 9:14 p.m. (8.5 feet). Low tides at 2:38 a.m. and 3 p.m.
In Rockport, Wednesday's high tides are at 8:06 a.m. and 8:20 p.m., and Thursday's at 8:53 a.m. and 9:10 p.m. In the Essex River, Wednesday's high tides are at 8:11 a.m. and 8:23 p.m., and Thursday's at 9:02 a.m. and 9:18 p.m.
Earlier coverage: Sunny but windy Tuesday near 58, gusts to 33 mph (Oct. 20), Tuesday's forecast and the start of the small craft advisory.
Sources
- RecordNational Weather Service Boston/Norton: 7-day forecast for Gloucester, updated 2:32 a.m. Oct. 21, 2026
- RecordNational Weather Service: Coastal waters forecast, Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay (ANZ251), 4:03 a.m. Oct. 21
- RecordNational Weather Service: active alerts for ANZ251 (small craft advisory and gale watch) and MAZ007 (none), checked about 5 a.m. Oct. 21
- 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)
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