Coastal Waters Forecast
Issued by NWS Key West, FL

Home |  Current Version |  Previous Version |  Text Only |  Print | Product List |  Glossary On
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34
010
FZUS52 KKEY 200835
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
435 AM EDT Mon May 20 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.

GMZ005-201445-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
435 AM EDT Mon May 20 2024

.SYNOPSIS...A frontal boundary currently draped across Central
Florida has helped the wind field across the Florida Keys become
somewhat nebulous this morning. Breezes have begun to shift to the
west to northwest in the western waters. By this afternoon,
breezes will veer to the northwest and increase. Tuesday through
Wednesday, breezes will gradually shift to the east as high
pressure in the western North Atlantic builds back in across the
region.

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.

$$

GMZ031-201445-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
435 AM EDT Mon May 20 2024

.TODAY...Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming west to
northwest 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters smooth to a light chop,
becoming to a light to moderate chop. Scattered showers and
isolated thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...West to northwest winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming
northwest to north 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters a light to moderate
chop, becoming smooth to a light chop. Scattered showers and
isolated thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...North winds near 5 knots, becoming variable. Bay
waters smooth. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...East winds near 5 knots. Bay waters smooth.
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to 10 to
15 knots in the afternoon. Bay waters smooth to a light chop,
becoming a light to moderate chop. Isolated showers and
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing to 5 to
10 knots. Bay waters a light to moderate chop, becoming smooth to
a light chop. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...Northeast to east winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a
light chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10
knots. Bay waters a light chop, becoming smooth to a light chop.
Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots.
Bay waters smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers and
thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ032-035-201445-
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-
435 AM EDT Mon May 20 2024

.TODAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming northwest 10 to 15
knots. Seas 1 foot or less, building to 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore
waters smooth to a light chop, becoming a light to moderate chop.
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming northwest to
north 5 to 10 knots. Seas subsiding to 1 foot or less. Nearshore
waters a light to moderate chop, becoming smooth to a light chop.
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...North winds near 5 knots, becoming variable. Seas 1
foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth. Scattered showers and
isolated thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming east. Seas
1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth. Scattered showers and
isolated thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to 10 to 15
knots. Seas 1 foot or less, building to around 1 foot. Nearshore
waters smooth to a light chop, becoming a light to moderate chop.
Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing to near
10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters a light to
moderate chop, becoming a light chop. Scattered showers and
isolated thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters a light chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters a light chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots.
Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop.
Isolated showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ042>044-201445-
Hawk Channel from Ocean Reef to Craig Key out to the reef-
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-
435 AM EDT Mon May 20 2024

.TODAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming west to northwest
10 to 15 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a
light chop, becoming a light to moderate chop. Scattered showers
and isolated thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...West to northwest winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming
northwest to north 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore
waters a light to moderate chop, becoming smooth to a light chop.
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...North winds near 5 knots, becoming variable. Seas 1
foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth. Scattered showers and
isolated thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming northeast
to east. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth. Scattered
showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to 10 to
15 knots in the afternoon. Seas around 1 foot, building to 1 to 2
feet. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop, becoming a light
to moderate chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots,
becoming east near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a
light to moderate chop, becoming a light chop. Isolated showers
and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore
waters a light chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light chop. Isolated showers and
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around
1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers
and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. Nearshore waters a light chop. Isolated showers
and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ052>055-072>075-201445-
Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef to Craig Key out 20 NM-
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-
435 AM EDT Mon May 20 2024

.TODAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming west to northwest
10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, building to 1 to 3 feet. Wave
Detail: East to southeast 1 foot at 4 seconds and northwest 1
foot at 4 seconds. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Northwest to north winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5
to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail: Northwest to north 1
foot at 4 seconds and northeast 1 foot at 3 seconds. Scattered
showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Wave
Detail: North 1 foot at 2 seconds. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming east. Seas
around 1 foot. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to 10 to
15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, building to 1 to 3 feet. Isolated
showers and thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots,
decreasing to 10 knots after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 feet, subsiding
to around 2 feet. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...Northeast to east winds near 10 knots. Seas around 2
feet. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing to near 10
knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas subsiding to 1 to 2
feet. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds near 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet.
Isolated showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ033-034-201445-
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-
435 AM EDT Mon May 20 2024

.TODAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming northwest near 10
knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail: West to northwest 1 foot at
5 seconds. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Northwest to north winds near 10 knots, becoming north
5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail: West to northwest 1
foot at 5 seconds and northwest to north 1 foot at 3 seconds.
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...North winds near 5 knots, becoming northwest to north.
Seas around 1 foot. Wave Detail: Northwest to north 1 foot at 4
seconds. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds near 5 knots, becoming
east. Seas around 1 foot. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1
to 2 feet. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 10 knots, becoming east to southeast
5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Isolated showers and
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots,
increasing to near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Isolated showers
and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, decreasing to
near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Isolated showers and
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Isolated showers and thunderstorms.

$$

NB