478
FZUS52 KKEY 021428
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
1028 AM EDT Fri Oct 2 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.

GMZ005-030230-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
1028 AM EDT Fri Oct 2 2026

.SYNOPSIS...
High pressure offshore of the Eastern Seaboard will remain in
place into the weekend. This feature will maintain moderate to
fresh southeasterly breezes across the Straits of Florida and
southwestern Gulf waters through the early morning hours, breezes
are on track to slacken to moderate by this afternoon.
Southeasterly winds will continue to prevail this weekend with
widespread moderate breezes on Saturday and subsiding to gentle to
moderate on Sunday. The winds will remain southeasterly into
early next week and generally remain less than 10 knots and seas 2
feet or less. In addition, a wet weather pattern will remain
across the Keys marine zones through this afternoon, resulting in
periods of scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms.

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.

$$

GMZ031-030230-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
1028 AM EDT Fri Oct 2 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...East to southeast 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.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a
light to moderate chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a light to
moderate chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a light
chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a
light chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters
smooth to a light chop.
.MONDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth to a
light chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 5 knots. Bay waters
smooth. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...Southeast to south winds near 5 knots. Bay waters
smooth. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds near 5 knots. Bay
waters smooth. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ032-035-030230-
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-
1028 AM EDT Fri Oct 2 2026

...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION UNTIL WINDS DECREASE...

.THIS AFTERNOON...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots,
decreasing to near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except around 3
feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters choppy, becoming
a moderate chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Winds
stronger and waters rougher in and near showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 3 feet, except 3
to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet west of the Marquesas Keys.
Nearshore waters a moderate chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except
2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet west of the Marquesas Keys.
Nearshore waters a moderate chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...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 and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around
1 foot, except 1 to 2 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore
waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of thunderstorms with a
slight chance of showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around
1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A slight chance
of showers.
.MONDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot
or less. Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Nearshore waters smooth. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ042>044-030230-
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-
1028 AM EDT Fri Oct 2 2026

...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION UNTIL WINDS DECREASE...

.THIS AFTERNOON...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots,
decreasing to near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters
choppy, becoming a moderate chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Winds stronger and seas higher in and around
showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas 3 to
4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop.
A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers
and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas around
1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...Southeast to south winds near 5 knots. Seas around
1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A chance
of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ052>055-072>075-030230-
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-
1028 AM EDT Fri Oct 2 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT...

.THIS AFTERNOON...East to southeast winds near 20 knots early,
decreasing to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5
feet. Winds stronger and seas higher in and around showers and
thunderstorms. Wave Detail: East to southeast 4 feet at 5
seconds. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to
near 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Wave
Detail: East 3 feet at 5 seconds. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East to southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3
feet. Wave Detail: East to southeast 3 feet at 5 seconds. A chance
of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas
2 to 3 feet. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around
2 feet. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas
around 2 feet. A chance of thunderstorms with a slight chance of
showers.
.MONDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1
foot. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1
foot. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ033-034-030230-
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-
1028 AM EDT Fri Oct 2 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT...

.THIS AFTERNOON...East to southeast winds near 20 knots early,
decreasing to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: East
to southeast 3 feet at 4 seconds. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Winds stronger and seas higher in and near showers
and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3
feet. Wave Detail: East to southeast 3 feet at 4 seconds. A chance
of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Wave Detail: East to southeast 2 feet at 4 seconds. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas
2 to 3 feet. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. A chance of showers with a slight chance of
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY...Southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...South winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
1 foot or less. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.

$$