Coastal Waters Forecast
Issued by NWS Key West, FL

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FZUS52 KKEY 141409
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
1009 AM EDT Mon Sep 14 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.

GMZ005-150230-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
1009 AM EDT Mon Sep 14 2026

.SYNOPSIS...
A weak pressure pattern will result in light and varying breezes
though the afternoon. Breezes will gradually freshen up out of
the northeast to east over the next few days, as a continental
high builds southward towards our area. Expect breezes to peak in
the moderate range late Tuesday and late Wednesday. Near normal
rain chances will trend considerably upwards through mid week as
broad troughing and increasing moisture moves in from the east.

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of September
11, 2026...

26 NM south of Dry Tortugas Light, on Loggerhead Key
15 NM south of Cosgrove Shoal Light, off the Marquesas Keys
15 NM south of Sand Key Light, off Key West
11 NM south-southeast of Looe Key, off Big Pine Key
 8 NM southeast of Sombrero Key Light, off Marathon
 6 NM southeast of Alligator Reef Light, off Islamorada
 2 NM southeast of Molasses Reef Light, off Key Largo
 1 NM east-southeast of Carysfort Reef Light, off Ocean Reef

Gulf Stream Information Courtesy of the National Weather Service in
Key West, using data from RTOFS and NASA SPoRT SST.

$$

GMZ031-150230-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
1009 AM EDT Mon Sep 14 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Variable winds near 5 knots. Bay waters smooth.
A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters
smooth to a light chop. A chance of thunderstorms with a slight
chance of showers.
.TUESDAY...East winds near 10 knots, becoming northeast to east
near 15 knots late. Bay waters a light chop, becoming a moderate
chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots, decreasing
to 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a moderate chop, becoming a light
to moderate chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a
light to moderate chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots,
decreasing to 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a moderate chop,
becoming a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a light chop.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a light
chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a
light chop. Showers and thunderstorms likely.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Bay waters
a light chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ032-035-150230-
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-
1009 AM EDT Mon Sep 14 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Nearshore waters smooth. A chance of showers with a slight
chance of thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...East winds near 10 knots, increasing to 10 to 15
knots. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters a light chop,
becoming a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots,
decreasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a
moderate chop, becoming a light to moderate chop. Showers likely
with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore
waters a light chop. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. Showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas around 1
foot. Nearshore waters a light chop. Showers likely with a chance
of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas around
1 foot. Nearshore waters a light chop. Showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ042>044-150230-
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-
1009 AM EDT Mon Sep 14 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Nearshore waters smooth. A chance of showers with a slight
chance of thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...East winds near 10 knots, increasing to 10 to 15
knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming a
light to moderate chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10 to 15
knots. Seas around 2 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop,
becoming a light to moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance
of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots,
decreasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a
moderate chop, becoming a light to moderate chop. Showers likely
with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore
waters a light chop. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas
1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2
feet. Nearshore waters a light chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. Nearshore waters a light chop. A chance of showers
and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ052>055-072>075-150230-
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-
1009 AM EDT Mon Sep 14 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Northeast to east winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. Wave Detail: East 1 foot at 3 seconds. A chance of
showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave
Detail: East 2 feet at 3 seconds. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...East winds near 10 knots, increasing to 10 to 15
knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail: East 2 feet at 4 seconds. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots, decreasing
to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Showers likely with a chance
of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. A chance
of showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas
2 to 3 feet. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around
2 feet. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ033-034-150230-
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-
1009 AM EDT Mon Sep 14 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Winds becoming east 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Wave Detail: Northeast to east 1 foot at 2 seconds. A chance
of showers and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...East winds near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Wave
Detail: East to southeast 1 foot at 3 seconds. A chance of showers
and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...East winds near 10 knots, increasing to near 15
knots. Seas building to 2 to 3 feet. Showers likely with a chance
of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10
to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 3 feet. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2
to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Showers likely with a chance
of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 3 feet.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.

$$