Chatham Edition

Cape Cod Fun Times

Published Friday, July 31, 2026 Morning field edition chatham.capecod.fun
Small black and tan dog resting in a gray bed
The Chatham weather desk finds a bright, breezy Friday, with a small ocean pulse and a better late-day land window.

Front Page

Small Surf, Breezy Friday, Humid Weekend Ahead

Friday is dry and comfortable, but a northwest breeze makes exposed water plans conditional. Marconi is small, about 1.5-2 ft at 5 seconds; golf and a late-day beach walk are stronger bets. Saturday turns humid and much windier, while Monday carries the next rain-and-gust watch.

Surf
Marconi is about 1.5-2 ft at 5 seconds; a longboard beach check, not a quality-surf call.
Paddle
Caution: northwest wind and gusts favor only a sheltered, experienced launch.
Golf
Good: dry 64-75 F air; book a tee time before the weekend humidity and wind.
Run
Good: 64-69 F early, though northwest gusts make exposed roads feel brisk.
Drive-In
Spider-Man: Brand New Day / Disclosure Day is posted at 8:05 / 10:35, rain or clear.
OSV
South Beach HCP protocols lifted July 29; Spit remains a resident area with 15 PSI enforced.
Ferries
Check operators: visibility looks better, but open-water wind can still outpace the land forecast.
Baseball
Chatham is at Orleans tonight at 6:30; Harwich visits Veterans Field Saturday at 7 PM.

Town Calendar

Things Happening This Week

Fri Jul 31 / Chatham

Summer STEM: Technology Challenge Camp

The Chamber calendar lists a youth technology challenge alongside other family programming.

Chatham calendar

Fri Jul 31 / Chatham

Free Morning Matinees

The Chatham Orpheum's free family-friendly morning matinees continue through Labor Day.

Chatham calendar

Daily / Chatham

Free Morning Matinees

The Chatham Orpheum’s free family-friendly morning matinees continue through Labor Day.

Matinee listing

Fri Jul 31 / Chatham

Summer STEM: Technology Challenge Camp

The chamber calendar lists a youth technology challenge on Tuesday alongside other family programming.

Chatham calendar

Fri Jul 31 / Chatham

Beginning Yoga

A midweek class is listed on the Chamber calendar for an easy indoor-weather backup.

Chatham calendar

Daily / Chatham

Art in the Park & Oars

The painted-shark display and Oars in the Stores remain easy Main Street add-ons.

Town event calendar

Next posted date / Harwich Port

Port Summer Nights

The next 5-8 PM street-music night features Leah & Colleen, Rock Harbor 3, and Mike Dumas and the Satellite Band.

Harwich lineup

This week / Cape-wide

Windswept Bog Webinar

Harwich Chamber lists a nature-and-conservation program on cranberry bogs and coastal habitat.

Harwich event list

Veterans Field

Chatham Anglers Watch

How They Are Doing

The official schedule lists Chatham at Orleans tonight, Friday July 31 at 6:30 PM. The league standings page was last stamped July 29, so this desk is not repeating a stale record; check the live table and team feed before first pitch.

The next listed home date is Harwich at Chatham Saturday, August 1 at 7:00 PM. Same-day weather, fog, or makeup changes can move Cape League plans.

Schedule & results CCBL standings Team stats

Upcoming Home Games

Date Opponent First Pitch
Sat Aug 1 Harwich 7:00 PM
After Aug 1 Check team slate Confirm

Home games are at Veterans Field. Cape League schedules can shift with weather, fog, lights, and makeup-game changes.

Surf Desk

Marconi Beach, Wellfleet

Surf Call

Open-Meteo Marine puts Marconi near 1.5-2 ft today at about 5 seconds, easing through the afternoon. It is small, short-period energy rather than a quality swell.

Friday is a beach-walk or longboard shore-check day. Saturday starts even smaller before southerly wind chop builds Sunday and Monday. Watch local flags and rip-current messaging before entering; model height is not a substitute for the guarded-beach call.

Board Call

Longboard or foam board only. Beginners should stay in guarded, shallow water; stronger surfers will find little push.

Tide Board

Event Time Height
Low 8:33 AM -0.2 ft
High 2:11 PM 5.4 ft
Low 8:30 PM 0.2 ft
High 2:50 AM Sat 5.4 ft

Tide times use NOAA station 8447435, Chatham, as the Atlantic-side proxy. Wellfleet Harbor is bay-side and not a clean Marconi surf proxy.

Boogie Board Bureau

Marginal only: weak rides and frequent closeouts. Keep children in shallow, supervised shore break and follow any posted flags.

Fri Jul 31

Small / Breezy

Low tides: 8:33 AM / 8:30 PM. Surf: 1.5-2 ft @ 5 sec. Wind: NW 7-10 mph, gusts 20.

Longboard shore check; a beach walk is the better call.

Sat Aug 1

Tiny / Windy

Low tides: 9:08 AM / 9:12 PM. Surf: 1 ft @ 6 sec. Wind: SW 12-15 mph, gusts 23.

Tiny surf and rising chop; use the beach rather than the lineup.

Sun Aug 2

Wind Chop

Low tides: 9:43 AM / 9:56 PM. Surf: 1-1.5 ft @ 4 sec. Wind: S 10-12 mph, gusts 19.

Small; a beach walk or foam board is the sensible call.

Mon Aug 3

Building Wind Chop

Low tides: 10:18 AM / 10:42 PM. Surf: 3-4 ft @ 4 sec. Wind: S 18-20 mph, gusts 30+.

Windy, short-period bump; skip the lineup and watch conditions from shore.

SUP & Kayak Desk

Forest Beach, South Chatham

Today: Caution

Forest Beach starts near 64 F with northwest wind around 7-10 mph and gusts near 20. A protected, experienced launch may work, but exposed water will be choppy.

Rain risk is low and UV is high. Keep it short, wear sun protection, stay close to shore, and do not turn a gusty outbound leg into a long return.

Paddle rating: good means sustained wind mostly under 8 mph; caution means 9-13 mph or gusty; bad means mid-teen sustained wind, strong gusts, storms, or poor visibility.

Tide & Wind Board

Item Today Read
Low Tide 8:33 AM / 8:30 PM Evening low exposes flats and lengthens carries.
High Tide 2:11 PM / 2:50 AM Sat Best water depth, but evaluate the launch locally.
Wind NW 7-10 mph Peak modeled gusts are near 20 mph.
Weather 64-75 F, dry Rain risk near 4%; wind and sun are the key caveats.

Tides use NOAA station 8447435, Chatham, as the closest daily proxy. Forest Beach still varies with shoals, creek mouths, and localized sea breeze.

Fri Jul 31

Caution

Tides: High 2:11 PM; low 8:33 AM / 8:30 PM. Wind: NW 7-10 mph / gusts 20.

Protected water only; exposure and gusts are the limiting factors.

Sat Aug 1

Bad

Tides: High 2:44 PM; low 9:08 AM / 9:12 PM. Wind: SW 12-15 mph / gusts 23.

Humid southwest wind makes exposed paddling a no-go.

Sun Aug 2

Bad

Tides: High 3:19 PM; low 9:43 AM / 9:56 PM. Wind: S 10-12 mph / gusts 19.

Hot, humid and breezy: save the water time for a beach walk.

Mon Aug 3

Bad

Tides: High 3:58 PM; low 10:18 AM / 10:42 PM. Wind: S 18-20 mph / gusts 30+.

Showers and strong south wind make this a no-go.

Golf Weather

Golf Forecast

Scale: 100 starts as perfect. Penalties apply for temperatures outside 60-80 F, dew point above 65 F, precipitation risk, and wind over 12 mph. 85+ is excellent, 70-84 good, 55-69 playable, below 55 rough.

Fri Jul 31

82 / Good

Dry 64-75 F air and a comfortable dew point offset a breezy northwest start.

Sat Aug 1

58 / Playable

Warm, humid air and southwest wind near 15 mph favor an early tee time.

Sun Aug 2

60 / Playable

Near 80 F, humid air, and southerly breeze make the early round the only comfortable slot.

Mon Aug 3

30 / Rough

Rain chance near 52% plus south wind around 20 mph and stronger gusts overwhelm the warm temperature.

Running Weather

Cape Running Index

Run ratings follow the morning-brief rule: assume 3-9 miles at 10-minute pace, so the runner may be outside for 30-90 minutes after starting. Ratings are great, good, ok, or ugh based on rain risk, dew point, humidity, heat across the full run window.

Good Fri

64-69 F from 5-9 AM is dry with manageable northwest wind, though gusts are noticeable.

Ugh Sat

70-75 F, dew points around 69 F, and southwest wind make even an early run muggy.

Ok Sun

68-76 F with humid air and a southerly breeze; start at first light and shorten the route.

Ugh Mon

Rain risk and a muggy 71-77 F morning, with gusty south wind, make this a flexible indoor-day call.

Outer Beach

Nauset Oversand Status

What Is Open

The Town of Orleans says Habitat Conservation Plan protocols for Nauset Beach South were lifted effective July 29. Check the town's current trail map before heading out because daily conditions can still change.

Nauset Spit's resident OSV area remains posted open from sunrise with 15 PSI strictly enforced. Habitat and tide conditions can still change after daily checks.

Restrictions

Area Posted Status Reason / Rule
Nauset Spit Open / residents Resident area; 15 PSI; park perpendicular and minimize footprint.
Nauset South Open / protocols lifted July 29 notice lifted HCP protocols; follow the current town trail map and gate board.
Nauset North / other trails Check daily map Beach width, nesting habitat, tide, and staff checks can change access without notice.

Town notice updated July 29; confirm the gate board and trail map because staff monitor habitat and beach width daily.

Island Boats

Ferry Weather & Operating Notes

NWS coastal-product access did not return a readable current zone narrative on this run; the marine model and operator pages are the weather and service basis.

Harwich Port to Nantucket

Freedom Cruise Line is in its 2026 operating season. Check the operator's departure-status page before leaving for Harwich Port.

Friday visibility looks better, but northwest wind and small chop can still differ offshore. Check the operator and the latest NWS coastal forecast before departure.

Falmouth to Martha's Vineyard

Island Queen’s Falmouth service is in its posted 2026 season. Reservations and same-day operator notices remain the final word.

Friday is dry but breezy on land; Vineyard Sound can run choppier than the beach forecast suggests. Reservations and same-day operator notices remain the final word.

The Amusements Page

Wellfleet Drive-In Schedule

Wellfleet Drive-In screen and field

The official page posts the current schedule block. Box office opens at 6:30 PM; shows run rain or clear and all schedules remain subject to change.

Date First Feature Second Feature
Fri Jul 31-Mon Aug 3 Spider-Man: Brand New Day (PG-13) / 8:05 Disclosure Day (PG-13) / 10:35
Tue Aug 4-Thu Aug 6 Monsters / posted time Spider-Man: Brand New Day / posted time

Friday through Monday: Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Disclosure Day, both PG-13. The next block begins Tuesday with Minions & Monsters and Spider-Man; confirm times on the ticket page.

Looking Ahead

Extended Four-Day Forecast

Fri Jul 31

Dry And Breezy

Weather: Mostly clear to partly cloudy, 64-75 F, rain risk near 4%, northwest gusts near 20 mph.

Best bets: Golf, running, or a beach walk; surf is small and a protected paddle is conditional on gusts.

Sat Aug 1

Humid And Windy

Weather: Mostly cloudy, 69-76 F, rain risk near 8%, southwest gusts near 23 mph.

Best bets: Early golf or a beach walk; humid wind makes running and paddling weaker options.

Sun Aug 2

Warm With South Breeze

Weather: Mostly cloudy, 68-80 F, rain risk near 9%, south wind near 12 mph.

Best bets: Beach time and an early tee time; surf is small and exposed paddling stays choppy.

Mon Aug 3

Rain And Gust Watch

Weather: Mostly cloudy, 71-81 F, rain risk near 52%, south wind around 20 mph with stronger gusts.

Best bets: Keep plans flexible; rain, wind chop, and tougher ferry conditions are the meaningful signals.

New & Interesting

Fresh Tables Near Chatham

Harwich Port

TK's Sports Bar

A casual sports-bar option for a game night or post-beach meal.

Harwich Port

Beacon & Buoy

Coastal dining worth checking for current service and reservations.

Chatham

Backyard by Foley's

A nearby casual stop retained from the weekly desk review.