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000
FXUS62 KKEY 031537
AFDKEY

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL
1037 AM EST TUE MAR 3 2015

.DISCUSSION...
MODERATE EASTERLY FLOW PERSISTS ACROSS THE FLORIDA KEYS AND ADJACENT
COASTAL WATERS THIS MORNING. THE AIR MASS IN RESIDENCE IS RIGHT AT
THE INTERFACE BETWEEN MARITIME TROPICAL AND A HIGHLY MODIFIED
CONTINENTAL POLAR VARIETY...WITH CURRENT AIR TEMPERATURES JUST SHY OF
80F...AND DEWPOINT TEMPERATURES MOSTLY IN THE UPPER 60S. SKIES ARE
MOSTLY SUNNY WITH A DEEP RIDGE GOVERNING ON THE SYNOPTIC SCALE. KEY
WEST MORNING RADIOSONDE DATA INDICATED A DEEP LAYER OF VERY DRY AIR
ABOVE ABOUT 4500 FEET ELEVATION. DESPITE THE RATHER HOSTILE
ENVIRONMENT FOR MOIST CONVECTION...A FEW SHALLOW TRADE-WIND TYPE
SHOWERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP OVER THE GULF STREAM WELL SOUTH OF
THE FLORIDA KEYS.

FORECASTS ARE ON TRACK WITH FEW ADJUSTMENTS NECESSARY AT THIS TIME.
&&

.MARINE...
SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION IN THE STRAITS OF FLORIDA WHERE
EAST WINDS WILL BLOW SUSTAINED AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS AND SEAS WILL BUILD
TO 6 FEET IN THE GULF STREAM. A LARGE AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED
OVER THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES WILL MOVE EASTWARD OVER THE
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC THIS AFTERNOON. THE ASSOCIATED RIDGE AXIS WILL
SETTLE SOUTHWARD TONIGHT...REACHING THE FLORIDA PENINSULA WEDNESDAY
AND THURSDAY. THEREAFTER...THE RIDGE AXIS WILL RETREAT OFFSHORE OVER
THE ATLANTIC.
&&

.AVIATION...
VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL AT THE ISLAND TERMINALS THIS AFTERNOON.
SURFACE WINDS WILL BE OUT OF THE EAST TO EAST SOUTHEAST AT 10 T O 15
KNOTS...WITH GUSTS NEAR 20 KNOTS.
&&

.KEY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...NONE.
GM...NONE.
&&

$$

PUBLIC/MARINE.........KASPER
AVIATION/NOWCASTS.....11
DATA COLLECTION.......PARKE

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