Sunny, windy Friday near 53; small craft advisory on the bays through tonight

Friday is sunny and windy, the National Weather Service says, with a high near 53 and a north wind of 14 to 23 mph. On the water, the gale warning has eased to a small craft advisory for Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay, in effect through this evening.

The forecast

The National Weather Service in Norton expects the following in Gloucester, in its 3:19 a.m. Friday update:

• Friday: Sunny, with a high near 53. North wind 14 to 23 mph.
• Friday night: Clear, with a low around 37. North wind 6 to 14 mph.
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 54. Northwest wind 2 to 6 mph.
• Saturday night: Clear, with a low around 40. West wind around 3 mph.
• Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 58. Southwest wind around 6 mph.

On the water

A small craft advisory is in effect for Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay through this evening. Today, north winds of 20 to 25 knots ease to 15 to 20 knots this afternoon, with gusts up to 30 knots and seas of 5 to 7 feet, the 4:03 a.m. marine forecast says.

Tonight, north winds of 10 to 15 knots drop to 5 to 10 knots after midnight, and seas of 4 to 6 feet subside to 3 to 4 feet. Saturday, northwest winds of 5 to 10 knots turn west in the afternoon, with seas of 3 to 4 feet. Sunday brings southwest winds of 5 to 10 knots and seas of 2 to 3 feet, then northeast winds of 15 to 20 knots Monday and Tuesday.

Tides

High tides in Gloucester Harbor, according to NOAA predictions:

• 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.
• Saturday: 10:20 a.m. (9.3 feet) and 10:45 p.m. (9 feet). Low tides at 4:06 a.m. and 4:32 p.m.

In Rockport, Friday's high tides are at 9:35 a.m. and 9:56 p.m., and Saturday's at 10:15 a.m. and 10:41 p.m. In the Essex River, Friday's high tides are at 9:48 a.m. and 10:08 p.m., and Saturday's at 10:30 a.m. and 10:56 p.m.

Earlier coverage: Gale warning on the bays through Friday afternoon; cloudy, windy Thursday near 58 (Oct. 22), Thursday's forecast and the gale warning that came before today's advisory.