Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Key West, FL
Issued by NWS Key West, FL
867 FXUS62 KKEY 180218 AFDKEY Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Key West FL 1018 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026 ...New DISCUSSION, MARINE, AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... - A swath of Saharan dry air will remain across the Keys through the first half of the week. Shower chances will remain virtually zero. - Warm and muggy conditions will continue throughout the work week, with light and often variable breezes. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 1030 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026 Quiet weather continues across the Keys this evening. This is due to the continued presence of air of Saharan origin. This evenings sounding indicated a robust inversion based down at 950 mb, or just under 2000 ft. In addition, moisture was rather low at 1.12 inches, which is a record low for the date and time. Skies have been essentially clear and despite the weak flow, mainland seabreeze activity could only pop a handful of convective cells this past afternoon. The surface flow is weak and often light and variable due to a ridge axis straddling our area. This along with clear skies has already allowed for some radiational cooling. Some island locations, like our office backyard, has fallen well into the lower 80s. Dew points remain in the mid 70s. Expect light and and variable breezes overnight due to the weak ridge axis sticking around. The Saharan Air Layer will stick around for awhile, keeping rain chances essentially nil and skies free of stratocu. Some thin cirrus may ride in on westerlies driven by a broad upper low centered over the Bay of Campeche. Temperatures will range broadly in the lower 80s due to interior and protected locations radiating down. Dew points will hold in the mid 70s. && .MARINE... Issued at 1030 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026 A ridge axis will remain draped across the Keys area overnight, resulting in light and variable breezes. Rain chances will be virtually nil tonight. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 1030 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026 VFR conditions will prevail at the island chain with nearly zero chance for precipitation. Expect light and variable breezes. && .KEY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. GM...None. && $$ Public/Marine/Fire...11 Aviation/Nowcasts....11 Data Acquisition.....DR Visit us on the web at weather.gov/key Follow us on Facebook and X at: www.facebook.com/nwskeywest www.x.com/nwskeywest