Hazardous Weather Outlook
Issued by NWS Key West, FL
Issued by NWS Key West, FL
733 FLUS42 KKEY 232149 HWOKEY Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Key West FL 549 PM EDT Mon Sep 23 2024 FLZ076>078-GMZ031>035-042>044-052>055-072>075-242200- Monroe Upper Keys-Monroe Middle Keys-Monroe Lower Keys- Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and Buttonwood Sound- Bayside and Gulf side from Craig Key to west end of Seven Mile Bridge- 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- Gulf of Mexico from west end of Seven Mile Bridge to Halfmoon Shoal out to 5 Fathoms- 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- 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- 549 PM EDT Mon Sep 23 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Florida Keys and adjacent coastal waters. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Minor coastal flooding associated with seasonal king tides will continue tonight. Isolated thunderstorms will be possible tonight. The primary hazards will be heavy downpours, locally gusty winds, and lightning strikes. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the Lower Keys and the coastal waters west of the Seven Mile Bridge. Tropical Storm Conditions are possible within the next 48 hours. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine located in the western Caribbean will move northwestward on Tuesday and Tuesday night, followed by a faster northward to north- northeastward motion on Wednesday and Thursday. On the forecast track, the center of the system is forecast to move across the northwestern Caribbean Sea through Tuesday night, and then over the eastern Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday and Thursday. Strengthening is expected during the next few days, and the system is forecast to become a hurricane on Wednesday and continue strengthening on Thursday as it moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Strong southeast winds could also aggravate existing higher than normal tides, leading to minor saltwater flooding across the Florida Keys. Water levels are expected to peak at 3 feet above ground, or mean higher high water. A Coastal Flood Watch may be required. At this time, we expect strong winds and building seas across the Florida Keys coastal waters beginning Tuesday night, and Small Craft Advisories will likely be required for mainly waters east of the Seven Mile Bridge from Tuesday night through Friday. 3 to 6 inches of rainfall will be possible during this time, with the potential for flooding of roadways and low lying spots. It is especially important to not focus on the central track for this system, as impacts will likely extend far to the east of the center. All interests in the Florida Keys should continue to closely monitor the latest forecast updates from the National Hurricane Center and your National Weather Service office in Key West during the next several days. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. $$