Coastal Waters Forecast
Issued by NWS Key West, FL
Issued by NWS Key West, FL
159 FZUS52 KKEY 161602 AAA CWFKEY Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys...UPDATED National Weather Service Key West FL 1202 PM EDT Thu May 16 2024 Florida Bay, Hawk Channel and Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef to south of Dry Tortugas, and the extreme southeastern Gulf of Mexico, including The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Seas are given as significant wave height, which is the average height of the highest 1/3 of the waves. Individual waves may be more than twice the significant wave height. Wave Detail will include details about the period and direction of origin for the highest energy waves. Long-period swells coming from a different direction than the wind would be included in the Wave Detail. GMZ005-162215- Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas 1202 PM EDT Thu May 16 2024 .SYNOPSIS...A weak frontal boundary to the north of the Florida Keys interacting with an area of high pressure in the western Atlantic will result in a somewhat chaotic wind forecast through the weekend. Breezes will tend to peak in the evening and overnight hours, and then lull in the afternoon hours. Rain and thunder chances will remain low through early next week. The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of May 15, 2024... 49 NM South of Dry Tortugas Light...on Loggerhead Key. 32 NM South of Cosgrove Shoal Light...off the Marquesas Keys. 24 NM South of Sand Key Light...off Key West. 27 NM South of Looe Key...off Big Pine Key. 29 NM South of Sombrero Key Light...off Marathon. 8 NM Southeast of Alligator Reef Light...off Islamorada. 3 NM Southeast of Molasses Reef Light...off Key Largo. Gulf Stream Information Courtesy of the National Weather Service in Key West. $$ GMZ031-162215- Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and Buttonwood Sound- 1202 PM EDT Thu May 16 2024 .THIS AFTERNOON...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming west near 15 knots. Bay waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a moderate chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .TONIGHT...West to northwest winds near 10 knots, becoming variable near 5 knots. Bay waters a light chop, becoming smooth. .FRIDAY...Variable near 5 knots, becoming southeast to south 5 to 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay waters smooth, becoming smooth to a light chop. .FRIDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth to a light chop. .SATURDAY...Southeast to south winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a light chop. Isolated showers. .SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to near 10 knots. Bay waters smooth to a light chop, becoming a light chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .SUNDAY...South winds near 10 knots, becoming south to southwest 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters a light chop, becoming smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY...Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth to a light chop. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. .MONDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. $$ GMZ032-035-162215- Bayside and Gulf side from Craig Key to west end of Seven Mile Bridge- Gulf of Mexico from west end of Seven Mile Bridge to Halfmoon Shoal out to 5 Fathoms- 1202 PM EDT Thu May 16 2024 .THIS AFTERNOON...Southwest to west winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .TONIGHT...West to northwest winds near 10 knots, becoming variable and decreasing to 5 to 10 knots after midnight. Seas 1 to 2 feet, subsiding to around 1 foot. Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming smooth to a light chop. .FRIDAY...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. .FRIDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming southeast near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop, becoming a light chop. .SATURDAY...Southeast to south winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less, except 1 to 2 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers. .SATURDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming southeast near 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less, except 1 to 2 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop, becoming a light chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .SUNDAY...South winds near 10 knots, becoming southwest to west 5 to 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. .MONDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. $$ GMZ042-162215- Hawk Channel from Ocean Reef to Craig Key out to the reef- 1202 PM EDT Thu May 16 2024 ...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION FOR INCREASING WINDS... ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MAY BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON... .THIS AFTERNOON...Southwest to west winds near 15 knots, increasing to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 1 to 3 feet, building to 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop, becoming choppy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .TONIGHT...West winds near 15 knots, becoming northwest to north 5 to 10 knots, then becoming south after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 feet, subsiding to around 1 foot. Nearshore waters a moderate chop, becoming smooth to a light chop. .FRIDAY...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. .FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, becoming southeast. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop. .SATURDAY...Southeast to south winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers. .SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, building to 1 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters becoming a light to moderate chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .SUNDAY...South winds near 10 knots, becoming southwest to west 5 to 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .SUNDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming west after midnight. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. .MONDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. .MONDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. $$ GMZ043-044-162215- Hawk Channel from Craig Key to west end of Seven Mile Bridge out to the reef- Hawk Channel from west end of Seven Mile Bridge to Halfmoon Shoal out to the reef- 1202 PM EDT Thu May 16 2024 .THIS AFTERNOON...Southwest to west winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 3 feet, subsiding to 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop, becoming a light to moderate chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .TONIGHT...Northwest to north winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming south after midnight. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. .FRIDAY...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. .FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, becoming southeast. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop. .SATURDAY...Southeast to south winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers. .SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, building to 1 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters becoming a light to moderate chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .SUNDAY...South winds near 10 knots, becoming southwest to west 5 to 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .SUNDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming west after midnight. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. .MONDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. .MONDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. $$ GMZ052-162215- Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef to Craig Key out 20 NM- 1202 PM EDT Thu May 16 2024 ...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION FOR INCREASING WINDS... .THIS AFTERNOON...Southwest to west winds near 15 knots, increasing to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, building to 3 to 4 feet. Wave Detail: Southwest to west 3 feet at 5 seconds. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .TONIGHT...West winds near 15 knots, becoming north to northeast 5 to 10 knots, then becoming southeast to south after midnight. Seas 3 to 4 feet. Wave Detail: West 3 feet at 5 seconds and northwest to north 1 foot at 3 seconds. Isolated showers. .FRIDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail: West to northwest 1 foot at 5 seconds and east to southeast 1 foot at 3 seconds. .FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 3 feet. Isolated showers. .SATURDAY...Southeast winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 3 feet, subsiding to 1 to 2 feet. Isolated showers. .SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 3 feet. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .SUNDAY...Southeast to south winds near 10 knots, becoming southwest to west 5 to 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .SUNDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming variable. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .MONDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming west to northwest. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. .MONDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. $$ GMZ053>055-072>075-162215- Straits of Florida from Craig Key to west end of Seven Mile Bridge out 20 NM- Straits of Florida from west end of Seven Mile Bridge to south of Halfmoon Shoal out 20 NM- Straits of Florida from Halfmoon Shoal to 20 NM west of Dry Tortugas out 20 NM- Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef to Craig Key 20 to 60 NM out- Straits of Florida from Craig Key to west end of Seven Mile Bridge 20 to 60 NM out- Straits of Florida from west end of Seven Mile Bridge to south of Halfmoon Shoal 20 to 60 NM out- Straits of Florida from Halfmoon Shoal to 20 NM west of Dry Tortugas 20 to 60 NM out- 1202 PM EDT Thu May 16 2024 .THIS AFTERNOON...Southwest winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: West to northwest 1 foot at 5 seconds and southwest 1 foot at 3 seconds. .TONIGHT...North to northeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming southeast to south after midnight. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail: West 1 foot at 5 seconds and northwest to north 1 foot at 3 seconds. Isolated showers. .FRIDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail: West to northwest 1 foot at 5 seconds and east to southeast 1 foot at 3 seconds. .FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 3 feet. Isolated showers. .SATURDAY...Southeast winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 3 feet, subsiding to 1 to 2 feet. Isolated showers. .SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 3 feet. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .SUNDAY...Southeast to south winds near 10 knots, becoming southwest to west 5 to 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .SUNDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming variable. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .MONDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming west to northwest. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. .MONDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. $$ GMZ033-034-162215- Gulf waters from East Cape Sable to Chokoloskee 20 to 60 NM out and beyond 5 fathoms- Gulf of Mexico including Dry Tortugas and Rebecca Shoal Channel- 1202 PM EDT Thu May 16 2024 .THIS AFTERNOON...Southwest to west winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming west to northwest near 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Wave Detail: Southwest 2 feet at 5 seconds. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .TONIGHT...Northwest to north winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming southeast to south after midnight. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail: Southwest to west 2 feet at 5 seconds. .FRIDAY...Southeast to south winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail: Southwest 1 foot at 5 seconds. .FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, becoming southeast to south 10 to 15 knots after midnight. Seas 1 to 2 feet, building to 1 to 3 feet. .SATURDAY...Southeast to south winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Isolated showers. .SATURDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming southeast near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .SUNDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming southwest to west in the afternoon. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. .SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY...West to northwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. .MONDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. $$ CLR