Gale Warning Along With Dangerous Wind And Sea Conditions Issued For Maine, US: What Tourists Need To Know!

Published on December 2, 2025

The National Weather Service (NWS) forecast center located in Caribou, Maine has placed a Gale Watch over the sea areas from Eastport, Maine to Schoodic Point, Maine, also including the southern part of Maine to Stonington, the watch is effective from Tuesday, 1 December evening to Wednesday morning. This announcement comes after a Small Craft Advisory for the same area was issued earlier today at 7:07 PM EST.

The change signals the possibility of dangerous wind and sea conditions developing over the next 24 to 36 hours, potentially affecting both mariners and visitors to the coast.

What the Alert Says

1. Winds & Seas: The Small Craft Advisory, valid until 10:00 PM this evening, warned of north winds of 10 to 20 knots, with gusts up to 30 knots, and seas of 3 to 6 ft. With the transition to the Gale Watch, conditions may intensify to sustained north winds of 20 to 30 knots, gusts as high as 45 knots, and seas rising to 5 to 8 ft.
2. Where: Coastal waters from Eastport to Schoodic Point, and from Schoodic Point to Stonington, out to 25 nautical miles.
3. When: The warning remains in effect from Tuesday evening (after the Small Craft Advisory ends) through Wednesday morning.
4. Impacts: The NWS cautions that strong winds and rough seas could capsize or damage vessels, impair navigation, and reduce visibility for mariners, posing serious hazards.

What This Means for Tourists and Visitors

For travellers and holiday-makers planning to visit the coastline between Eastport and Stonington over the next day or two, the alert serves as a strong warning. Tourist activities involving boat trips, coastal sightseeing from piers, jetties or cliff-edge paths, ferry rides, or water-based excursions should be postponed or cancelled until conditions improve.

Key coastal destinations likely to be affected include:

• Eastport harbour and waterfront
• Schoodic Point coastal areas and nearby parkland
• Stonington harbour and surrounding coastal villages
• Any local marinas, fishing piers, or tour-boat services operating in these waters

Safety and Precautionary Guidelines

Authorities and the marine-weather guidelines recommend the following:

• Avoid going out to sea. Mariners should consider altering plans, staying in port, or seeking safe harbour.
• Secure vessels. If boats are moored along the coast, ensure they are properly tied or hauled out to avoid damage from strong waves and gusts.
• Avoid coastal promenades, jetties and piers. High seas and wind-driven spray can make such places treacherous, with risk of being swept off or injured.
• Stay updated on forecasts. Visitors and residents should monitor the official marine forecast from NWS, conditions at sea can change rapidly.
• Delay seaside tourism. Postpone boat tours, ferry trips, fishing excursions or any water-based outings until the Gale Watch is lifted and seas calm.

Why It Matters: Understanding a Gale Watch

A Gale Watch issued by the NWS means there is a significant risk of gale-force winds (sustained surface winds or frequent gusts between 34 and 47 knots, i.e. 39–54 mph), though the exact timing or severity may still be uncertain.

The shift from a Small Craft Advisory to a Gale Watch typically signals that weather and marine conditions are likely to worsen, a signal that even larger boats and coastal operations should take seriously.

Bottom Line

The NWS warning is for the people living, boating, and going to see the east-coast of Maine from Eastport to Stonington, the next 24 hours may bring very hard, maybe even dangerous sea conditions. It is the best to treat the NWS warning very seriously: changing the timing of marine outings, checking safety measures are in place, and stopping risks from happening are all strongly recommended.

Coastline walking, taking a ferry for the view, or going for a fishing trip are among the options, but maybe it would be better to choose a quiet indoor cafe or a rest with a view of the coast instead, at least until the water is calm and the watch is over.