Coastal Waters Forecast
Issued by NWS Key West, FL

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FZUS52 KKEY 180220
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
1020 PM EDT Sun Mar 17 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.

GMZ005-180830-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
1020 PM EDT Sun Mar 17 2024

.SYNOPSIS...Gentle easterly breezes across the Keys coastal
waters veer to the southeast to south through tomorrow morning.
Breezes will continue to turn around the clock on Monday as a
cold front approaches, with freshening breezes late Monday night
into Tuesday morning. Breezes continue to turn from northerly to
easterly and diminish between Tuesday and Wednesday. Active
weather at the end of the week will cause breezes to freshen again
and begin to shift to the southwest to west by Friday night ahead
of another late season cold front.

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream is currently
unavailable.

$$

GMZ031-180830-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
1020 PM EDT Sun Mar 17 2024

.OVERNIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 5 knots, becoming
southeast to south 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth, becoming
smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY...South winds near 10 knots, becoming southwest to west
in the afternoon. Bay waters a light chop. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay
waters a light to moderate chop. Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY...Northwest to north winds near 15 knots, becoming north
to northeast 10 to 15 knots in the afternoon. Bay waters a
moderate chop, becoming a light to moderate chop.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots,
decreasing to near 10 knots. Bay waters a light to moderate chop,
becoming a light chop.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast to east winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a
light chop.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a light
chop.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 10 knots, increasing to near 15 knots
in the afternoon. Bay waters a light chop, becoming a moderate
chop in the afternoon. Isolated showers.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots,
becoming southeast near 20 knots. Bay waters choppy, becoming
rough. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...Southeast to south winds near 20 knots, becoming south
near 15 knots. Bay waters rough. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...South to southwest winds near 15 knots, becoming
southwest to west 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a moderate chop,
becoming a light to moderate chop. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ032-035-180830-
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-
1020 PM EDT Sun Mar 17 2024

.OVERNIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 5 knots, becoming
southeast to south 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore
waters smooth, becoming smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming southwest to west
near 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore
waters smooth to a light chop, becoming a light chop. Isolated
showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming
northwest to north near 15 knots. Seas building to 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a moderate
chop. Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY...Northwest to north winds 15 to 20 knots, becoming
northeast 10 to 15 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 feet,
except 3 to 4 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters
choppy, becoming a light to moderate chop.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2
to 3 feet, subsiding to 1 to 2 feet. West of the Marquesas Keys,
seas 3 to 4 feet, subsiding to 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters a
light to moderate chop.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds near 10 knots. Seas subsiding to 1 to 2
feet. Nearshore waters a light chop.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light chop.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming east to southeast
and increasing to 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon. Seas 1 to 2
feet, building to around 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to
moderate chop, becoming choppy. Isolated showers.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 20 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet, except building to around 4 feet west of the Marquesas
Keys. Nearshore waters rough. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...Southeast to south winds near 20 knots, decreasing to
near 15 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet. subsiding to 2 to 4 feet.
Nearshore waters rough, becoming a moderate chop. Scattered
showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...South to southwest winds near 15 knots, becoming
west 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet. Nearshore waters a
moderate chop, becoming a light to moderate chop. Scattered
showers and isolated thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ042>044-180830-
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-
1020 PM EDT Sun Mar 17 2024

.OVERNIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming southeast to south.
Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop.
Isolated showers.
.MONDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming southwest to west
near 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore
waters smooth to a light chop, becoming a light chop. Isolated
showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming
northwest near 15 knots. Seas around 1 foot, building to 1 to 2
feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a
moderate chop. Scattered showers.
.TUESDAY...Northwest to north winds 15 to 20 knots, becoming
northeast near 15 knots in the afternoon. Seas around 2 feet,
except 2 to 4 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters
choppy, becoming a moderate chop.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots,
decreasing to near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. West of Cosgrove
Shoal Light, seas 2 to 4 feet, subsiding to 2 to 3 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a light chop.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast to east winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. West of Cosgrove Shoal Light, seas 2 to 3 feet, subsiding
to around 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light chop.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 10 knots, increasing to near 15 knots
in the afternoon. Seas 1 to 2 feet, building to 2 to 3 feet.
Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming a moderate chop. Isolated
showers.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots, becoming
southeast near 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, building to 3 to 4 feet.
Nearshore waters choppy, becoming rough. Scattered showers and
isolated thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...Southeast to south winds near 20 knots, becoming south
and decreasing to near 15 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, subsiding to 3
to 4 feet. Nearshore waters rough, becoming a moderate chop.
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...South to southwest winds near 15 knots. Seas 3 to
4 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop. Scattered showers and
isolated thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ052>055-072>075-180830-
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-
1020 PM EDT Sun Mar 17 2024

.OVERNIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, becoming
southeast to south. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY...South winds near 10 knots, becoming southwest to west
in the afternoon. Seas around 1 to 2 feet. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds near 10 knots, becoming
north and increasing to near 15 knots after midnight. Seas 1 to 2
feet, building to 2 to 3 feet. Scattered showers.
.TUESDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots, becoming north to
northeast near 15 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 4 feet,
building to 3 to 5 feet. Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas
subsiding to 2 to 4 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4
feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Isolated showers.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to near 15 knots.
Seas 2 to 3 feet, building to 3 to 4 feet. Isolated showers.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots,
increasing to near 20 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet, building to 5 to 6
feet. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...Southeast to south winds near 20 knots, becoming south
to southwest near 15 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, subsiding to 3 to 5
feet. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds near 15 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet.
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ033-034-180830-
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-
1020 PM EDT Sun Mar 17 2024

.OVERNIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming southeast to south.
Seas around 1 foot. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming west in the
afternoon. Seas around 1 foot. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming
north 15 to 20 knots after midnight. Seas around 1 foot, building
to 2 to 4 feet. Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY...North to northeast winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to
10 to 15 knots in the afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...North winds near 10 knots, becoming northeast to
east. Seas 3 to 5 feet, subsiding to 2 to 4 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast to east winds near 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3
feet, subsiding to around 2 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming east to southeast
near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, building to 2 to 3 feet.
Isolated showers.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds near 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet,
building to 3 to 5 feet. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...Southeast to south winds near 20 knots, becoming south
to southwest near 15 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet. Numerous showers
and isolated thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming west to
northwest after midnight. Seas 3 to 6 feet due to west swell.
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.

$$


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