Clear and breezy tonight, then a sunny, gusty, cooler Tuesday with a small craft advisory on the bay until 8 a.m.

Expect a clear, breezy night and a sunny but cooler and gusty Tuesday, the National Weather Service says, with more sun and warmer air by Thursday.

The forecast

The National Weather Service in Norton expects the following in Gloucester, in its 7:20 p.m. update:

• Tonight: Clear, with a low around 46. Northwest wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.
• Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 57. Northwest wind of 14 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.
• Tuesday night: Clear, with a low around 42. West wind of 8 to 14 mph.
• Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 62. Southwest wind of 5 to 12 mph.
• Wednesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56.
• Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 68.

On the water

A small craft advisory is in effect for Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay until 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Tonight, northwest winds of 15 to 20 knots and seas of 3 to 4 feet. Tuesday, northwest winds of 15 to 20 knots ease to 10 to 15 knots in the afternoon, with gusts up to 25 knots and seas of 2 to 3 feet. Tuesday night, west winds of 10 to 15 knots ease to 5 to 10 knots after midnight. Wednesday, southwest winds of 5 to 10 knots build to 10 to 15 knots in the afternoon, with gusts up to 20 knots.

Tides

High tides in Gloucester Harbor, according to NOAA predictions:

• Monday: 7:08 a.m. (8.4 feet) and 7:29 p.m. (9.7 feet). Low tides at 12:47 a.m. and 1:05 p.m.
• Tuesday: 8:15 a.m. (8.7 feet) and 8:36 p.m. (9.7 feet). Low tides at 1:54 a.m. and 2:14 p.m.
• Wednesday: 9:16 a.m. (9.1 feet) and 9:37 p.m. (9.8 feet). Low tides at 2:55 a.m. and 3:17 p.m.

Rockport's high tides come about a minute earlier than Gloucester Harbor's. In the Essex River, they come about 10 to 14 minutes later.

Still a mild drought

The state's most recent drought declaration, from Sept. 10, keeps the Northeast region, which includes Cape Ann, at Level 1, a mild drought. The state's drought task force meets Thursday. Rockport still bans all outdoor water use, and its water committee meets Wednesday at 2 p.m. Why Rockport banned outdoor watering as the drought eased. Read the rules for each town.

Earlier coverage: Mostly sunny Sunday, showers tonight, then a breezy, milder Monday (Oct. 4), the Sunday forecast.

Update, Oct. 5, evening: The forecast and marine sections now use the National Weather Service's evening updates. Tuesday's high is now near 57, with gusts up to 32 mph. Tide times are unchanged.