248
FZUS52 KKEY 120825
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
425 AM EDT Mon Oct 12 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.

GMZ005-122030-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
425 AM EDT Mon Oct 12 2026

.SYNOPSIS...
A couple of nearby features will define the weather across the
Florida Keys for the first half of the week. The Atlantic Ridge is
gradually weakening and moving east towards the central Atlantic.
Another weak high pressure system is located over the Gulf.
Between the two pressure systems lies a weak frontal boundary
that is set up across central Florida. The front is primed to pass
across the Keys waters sometime early in the week, and promote
gentle to moderate northeast to east breezes. Shower chances are
forecast to be slight before mid-week before the previously
mentioned front stalls near the Keys waters. Late in the week,
there is a chance a strong cold front could develop and move
towards the Florida Keys. Frontal passage with this cold front
could occur over next weekend, and we will continue monitoring
this system.

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of October
9, 2026...

53 NM south-southeast of Dry Tortugas Light, on Loggerhead Key
33 NM south-southeast of Cosgrove Shoal Light, off the Marquesas Keys
24 NM south-southeast of Sand Key Light, off Key West
19 NM south-southeast of Looe Key, off Big Pine Key
13 NM south-southeast of Sombrero Key Light, off Marathon
 5 NM south-southeast of Alligator Reef Light, off Islamorada
 2 NM east of Molasses Reef Light, off Key Largo
 2 NM east of Carysfort Reef Light, off Ocean Reef

Gulf Stream Information Courtesy of the Naval Oceanographic
Office.

$$

GMZ031-122030-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
425 AM EDT Mon Oct 12 2026

.TODAY...Northeast to east winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth
to a light chop. A chance of showers with a slight chance of
thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 10 knots, increasing to 10
to 15 knots. Bay waters a light chop, becoming a light to
moderate chop. A chance of showers with a slight chance of
thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a light to
moderate chop. A slight chance of showers.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a
light to moderate chop. A slight chance of showers.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a
light to moderate chop. A chance of showers with a slight chance
of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a light
to moderate chop. A chance of showers with a slight chance of
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a light to
moderate chop. A chance of showers with a slight chance of
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots,
becoming east 5 to 10 knots after midnight. Bay waters a light to
moderate chop, becoming smooth to a light chop. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth to a light
chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 5 knots. Bay waters
smooth. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ032-035-122030-
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-
425 AM EDT Mon Oct 12 2026

.TODAY...Northeast to east winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5
to 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters
a light chop, becoming smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to 10 to
15 knots after midnight. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except building to 2
to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters smooth to a
light chop, becoming a light to moderate chop. A chance of
showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet,
except 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a
light to moderate chop. A slight chance of showers.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots,
increasing to near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except 2 to 3 feet
west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a light to moderate
chop, becoming a moderate chop. A slight chance of showers.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10
to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of the
Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a moderate chop, becoming a light
to moderate chop. A chance of showers with a slight chance of
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet,
except 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a
moderate chop. A chance of showers with a slight chance of
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except 2
to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a light to
moderate chop. A chance of showers with a slight chance of
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot,
except subsiding to 1 to 2 feet west of the Marquesas Keys.
Nearshore waters a light chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.


$$

GMZ042>044-122030-
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-
425 AM EDT Mon Oct 12 2026

.TODAY...Northeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers
with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots. Seas
around 3 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop. A chance of
showers.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots, decreasing to
10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate
chop, becoming a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers with
a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots, becoming
east and decreasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Nearshore waters a moderate chop, becoming a light to moderate
chop. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers
with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10 knots.
Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming smooth
to a light chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ052>055-072>075-122030-
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-
425 AM EDT Mon Oct 12 2026

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

$$

GMZ033-034-122030-
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-
425 AM EDT Mon Oct 12 2026

.TODAY...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming north to
northeast. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east 2
feet at 3 seconds and northwest 2 feet at 5 seconds. A slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...North to northeast winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming
northeast and increasing to near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave
Detail: Northwest to north 3 feet at 5 seconds. A slight chance
of showers and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...Northeast winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10 to 15
knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: North to northeast 3 feet
at 5 seconds. A slight chance of showers.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming
northeast to east and increasing to near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3
feet. A slight chance of showers.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10
to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. A slight chance of showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots,
becoming east and increasing to near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. A chance
of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet.
A chance of thunderstorms with a slight chance of showers.
.FRIDAY...East winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10 knots.
Seas 1 to 2 feet. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around
1 foot. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.

$$

MJV