Gale warning on the bays through Friday afternoon; cloudy, windy Thursday near 58

Thursday turns windy and mostly cloudy, the National Weather Service says, with a high near 58. On the water, the gale watch has become a gale warning for Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay, in effect until 2 p.m. Friday.

The forecast

The National Weather Service in Norton expects the following in Gloucester, in its 2:34 a.m. Thursday update:

• Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. North wind 15 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.
• Thursday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. North wind 16 to 25 mph.
• Friday: Sunny, with a high near 52. North wind 8 to 16 mph.
• Friday night: Clear, with a low around 38. North wind around 7 mph.

On the water

A gale warning is in effect for Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay until 2 p.m. Friday. Today and tonight, north winds of 20 to 25 knots with gusts up to 35 knots. Seas of 5 to 7 feet today and 5 to 8 feet tonight.

Friday, north winds of 20 to 25 knots ease to 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon, with gusts up to 30 knots and seas of 5 to 7 feet. Friday night the wind drops to 5 to 10 knots. Saturday looks calm, with west winds of 5 to 10 knots and seas of 2 to 3 feet, and northwest winds of 10 to 15 knots Sunday and Monday.

Tides

High tides in Gloucester Harbor, according to NOAA predictions:

• 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.
• Friday: 9:39 a.m. (8.7 feet) and 10:01 p.m. (8.8 feet). Low tides at 3:23 a.m. and 3:47 p.m.

In Rockport, Thursday's high tides are at 8:53 a.m. and 9:10 p.m., and Friday's at 9:35 a.m. and 9:56 p.m. In the Essex River, Thursday's high tides are at 9:02 a.m. and 9:18 p.m., and Friday's at 9:48 a.m. and 10:08 p.m.

Earlier coverage: Cloudy, breezy Wednesday near 52, then a gale watch for the bays (Oct. 21), Wednesday's forecast and the gale watch that came before today's warning.