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000
FXUS62 KKEY 060846
AFDKEY

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL
346 AM EST FRI DEC 6 2013

.DISCUSSION...
.CURRENTLY...
CLEAR SKIES ACROSS THE ISLAND CHAIN OVERNIGHT HAVE REVEALED A STAR
FILLED SKY. MEANWHILE A WINTER STORM IS RAGING ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES FROM WEST TEXAS TO THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES. MAKES THE KEY WEST
ENVIRONMENT EVEN MORE ENTICING. AFTER AN EARLIER WIND
SURGE...MODERATE TO FRESH EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS OBSERVED ON THE
COASTAL WATERS ARE 15 TO 20 KNOTS AT MOLASSES REEF...NEAR 15 KNOTS AT
SMITH SHOAL...AND 10 TO 15 KNOTS AT THE ISLAND TERMINALS.

.SHORT TERM (TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY)...
NO CHANGES WILL BE ISSUED IN THE NEAR TERM FORECAST WITH MODERATE TO
FRESH WINDS OUT OF THE EAST TO SOUTHEAST THROUGH AT LEAST SUNDAY
NIGHT. BEST CHANCE FOR SHOWERS WILL BE SATURDAY NIGHT DUE TO A BRIEF
ENCOUNTER WITH HIGHER MOISTURE WHILE WINDS SHIFT SLIGHTLY MORE
NORTHEAST TO EAST SATURDAY NIGHT. WILL KEEP ONLY A SLIGHT CHANCE DUE
TO THE LIMITED VERTICAL EXTENT OF THE MOISTURE IN THE MODEL
SOUNDINGS.

&&

.LONG TERM (MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY)...
MONDAY A DEVELOPING TROUGH WILL DROP OUT OF THE FRONT RANGE AND
WEAKEN THE RIDGE OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC THE DEEPENING TROUGH WILL
PUSH A FRONT DOWN TO THE NORTHERN GULF COAST AND WEAKEN THE PRESSURE
GRADIENT EVEN FURTHER. THE FRONT WILL NOT MAKE MUCH PROGRESS DOWN THE
FLORIDA PENINSULA THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT BEFORE A STRONG RIDGE BUILD
OVER THE DEEP SOUTH. THE INTENSIFYING RIDGE WILL FRESHEN WINDS ACROSS
THE AREA GRADUALLY THROUGH THURSDAY...BECOMING FRESH NORTHEAST WINDS
FRIDAY.

&&

.MARINE...
SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION OVER HAWK CHANNEL AND THE STRAITS
OF FLORIDA TODAY WITH EAST TO SOUTHEAST BREEZES 15 TO 20 KNOTS SOUTH
OVER THE STRAITS...AND NEAR 15 KNOTS NORTH OF HAWK CHANNEL...WITH
SOME PERIODS OF HIGHER GUSTS. AN EXPANDING AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL
EVOLVE SLOWLY OVER THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC AND SOUTHEASTERN UNITED
STATES...RESULTING IN A PERIOD OF SEVERAL DAYS WITH MODERATE TO FRESH
EASTERLY TO SOUTHEASTERLY BREEZES AND ISOLATED SHOWERS.

&&

.AVIATION...
06/06Z TAF ISSUANCE...VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL AT EYW AND MTH
THROUGH THE PERIOD. SURFACE WINDS WILL GRADUALLY INCREASE THROUGH
THE PERIOD AND WILL BE GUSTY AT TIMES.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
KEY WEST  81  75  81  75 / -  -  10 20
MARATHON  83  75  83  75 / -  -  10 20

&&

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

$$

PUBLIC/MARINE.........BWC
AVIATION/NOWCASTS.....MSB

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