540
FZUS52 KKEY 270229
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
1029 PM EDT Sat Sep 26 2026

Florida Bay, Hawk Channel and Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef
to south of Dry Tortugas, and the extreme southeastern Gulf of
America, 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.

The Wave Detail section highlights the period and direction of
origin for the highest-energy waves, as well as any long-period
swells moving in a different direction than the wind.

GMZ005-271430-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
1029 PM EDT Sat Sep 26 2026

.SYNOPSIS...
An early season cold front remains draped across the distant
Straits of Florida through at least Sunday night, supporting light
to gentle northerlies. A Nor`easter remains off the coast of New
Jersey which will continue to support a northeasterly swell with
large periods in the eastern marine zones through Sunday. The
aforementioned front will begin to push back northward through the
marine zones on Monday. Winds will then clock back to the
southeast to south for early next week, also accompanied by
increasing rain and thunder chances. In addition, strengthening
high pressure is expected to move off the Southeast U.S. coastline
around the middle to latter half of next week. This will promote
freshening east to southeast breezes, potentially become moderate
to fresh.

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of
September 25, 2026...

43 NM south of Dry Tortugas Light, on Loggerhead Key
20 NM south of Cosgrove Shoal Light, off the Marquesas Keys
14 NM south of Sand Key Light, off Key West
 7 NM south-southeast of Looe Key, off Big Pine Key
 4 NM south-southeast of Sombrero Key Light, off Marathon
 4 NM south-southeast of Alligator Reef Light, off Islamorada
 0 NM southeast of Molasses Reef Light, off Key Largo
 1 NM west-northwest of Carysfort Reef Light, off Ocean Reef

Gulf Stream Information Courtesy of the Naval Oceanographic Office.

$$

GMZ031-271430-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
1029 PM EDT Sat Sep 26 2026

.OVERNIGHT...Northwest to north winds near 10 knots, becoming
north to northeast and decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters a
light chop, becoming smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of
showers.
.SUNDAY...North to northeast winds near 5 knots, becoming variable.
Bay waters smooth. A slight chance of showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots. Bay waters smooth. A
slight chance of showers.
.MONDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming southeast to south.
Bay waters smooth. A chance of showers with a slight chance of
thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...South to southwest winds near 5 knots, becoming
southeast. Bay waters smooth. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds near 5 knots. Bay waters smooth.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay
waters smooth to a light chop. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to
near 10 knots. Bay waters smooth to a light chop, becoming a
light chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots,
increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a light chop, becoming a
light to moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a
light to moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay
waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ032-035-271430-
Bayside and Gulfside from Craig Key to west end of Seven Mile
Bridge-
Gulf of America from west end of Seven Mile Bridge to Halfmoon
Shoal out to 5 Fathoms-
1029 PM EDT Sat Sep 26 2026

.OVERNIGHT...North winds near 10 knots, becoming north to
northeast and decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet,
subsiding to around 1 foot. Nearshore waters a light chop,
becoming smooth to a light chop.
.SUNDAY...North to northeast winds near 5 knots, becoming variable.
Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth.
.MONDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming southeast to
south. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth. A chance of
showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...South to southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas 1
foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth. Showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less,
building to around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light
chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots,
increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 1 foot, building to 1
to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming a light to
moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore
waters choppy. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas
2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ042-271430-
Hawk Channel from Ocean Reef to Craig Key out to the reef-
1029 PM EDT Sat Sep 26 2026

.OVERNIGHT...Northwest to north winds near 10 knots, becoming
north to northeast and decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2
feet. Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming smooth to a light
chop. A slight chance of showers.
.SUNDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, subsiding
to around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of
showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of showers.
.MONDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming south to
southwest 5 to 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth, becoming smooth to a light chop. A chance
of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...South winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to
near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot, building to 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop, becoming a light chop.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots,
increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, building 1 to 3
feet. Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming a light to moderate
chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East to southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop. Showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas
2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate
chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ043-044-271430-
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-
1029 PM EDT Sat Sep 26 2026

.OVERNIGHT...North winds near 10 knots, becoming north to
northeast and decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet,
subsiding to around 1 foot. Nearshore waters a light chop,
becoming smooth to a light chop.
.SUNDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters smooth.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of showers.
.MONDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming southeast to
south. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth. A chance of
showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...South winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less,
building to around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Showers
with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas around
1 foot, building 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1
to 2 feet, building 1 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters a light to
moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Nearshore waters choppy. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas
2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters choppy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ052-072-271430-
Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef to Craig Key out 20 NM-
Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef to Craig Key 20 to 60 NM out-
1029 PM EDT Sat Sep 26 2026

.OVERNIGHT...Northwest to north winds near 10 knots, becoming
north to northeast and decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas 3 to 4
feet, occasionally to 5 feet due to northeast swell, subsiding to
2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: North to northeast 3 feet at 12 seconds.
A slight chance of showers.
.SUNDAY...Northwest to north winds near 5 knots, becoming west.
Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: North to northeast 2 feet at 13
seconds. A slight chance of showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Wave Detail: North to northeast 2 feet at 12 seconds. A slight
chance of showers.
.MONDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming southeast to
south. Seas 1 to 2 feet. A chance of showers with a slight chance
of thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...South winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet,
subsiding to around 1 foot. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 5 knots, increasing
to 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas
2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Showers with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to
4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas
3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ053>055-073>075-271430-
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 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-
1029 PM EDT Sat Sep 26 2026

.OVERNIGHT...Northwest to north winds near 10 knots, becoming
north to northeast and decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2
feet. Wave Detail: Northwest to north 2 feet at 5 seconds and
northeast to east 1 foot at 5 seconds.
.SUNDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave
Detail: North to northeast 1 foot at 5 seconds. A slight chance
of showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Wave Detail: North to northeast 1 foot at 4 seconds. A slight
chance of showers.
.MONDAY...South to southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1
foot. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...South winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds near 5 knots, increasing to 5 to 10
knots. Seas around 1 foot. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot, building 1 to 2 feet. Showers likely with a chance
of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, increasing to
10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2
to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Showers likely with a chance
of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East to southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas 3 to
4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas
3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ033-034-271430-
Gulf of America from East Cape Sable to Chokoloskee 20 to 60 NM
out and beyond 5 fathoms-
Gulf of America including Dry Tortugas and Rebecca Shoal Channel-
1029 PM EDT Sat Sep 26 2026

.OVERNIGHT...North to northeast winds near 10 knots, decreasing to
near 5 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, subsiding to around 1 foot. Wave
Detail: Northwest to north 1 foot at 5 seconds.
.SUNDAY...North to northwest winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1
foot. Wave Detail: Northwest to north 1 foot at 4 seconds.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. Wave
Detail: Northwest to north 1 foot at 4 seconds. A slight chance
of showers.
.MONDAY...South to southwest winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...South winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less,
building to around 1 foot. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds near 5 knots, increasing to 5 to 10
knots. Seas around 1 foot. Showers with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around
1 foot. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to
near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot, building 1 to 2 feet. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas
1 to 2 feet, building to 2 to 3 feet. Showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East to southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas
2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Showers likely with a chance
of thunderstorms.

$$

MJV/DM