016
FZUS52 KKEY 170832
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
432 AM EDT Thu Sep 17 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.

GMZ005-172045-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
432 AM EDT Thu Sep 17 2026

.SYNOPSIS...
High pressure across the north Atlantic will maintain gentle to
moderate east to northeast breezes through tonight. Winds will
then lessen on Friday and into the start of the weekend into
light to gentle range out of the east and southeast as high
pressure weakens north of the area weakens. In addition, a wet
pattern will develop across the Florida Keys coastal waters
through Sunday as an upper-level low retrogrades westward towards
the region. The upper-level low will move out of the area by
early next week but deep moisture lingering across the region will
maintain daily rain chances into next week with winds remaining
10 kts or less throughout this time.

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.

$$

GMZ031-172045-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
432 AM EDT Thu Sep 17 2026

.TODAY...Northeast to east winds near 10 knots, becoming near
15 knots. Bay waters a light chop, becoming a moderate chop.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming 5 to
10 knots. 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. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 10 knots, becoming
around 5 knots. Bay waters a light chop, becoming smooth. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters
smooth to a light chop. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters
smooth to a light chop. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth to a light
chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay
waters smooth to a light chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.MONDAY...South winds near 5 knots. Bay waters smooth. Showers
and thunderstorms likely.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth
to a light chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ032-035-172045-
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-
432 AM EDT Thu Sep 17 2026

.TODAY...Northeast to east winds near 10 knots, becoming east.
Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop. Showers likely
with a chance of thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Northeast to 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 winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore
waters smooth to a light chop. Showers likely with a chance of
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.
.SATURDAY...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.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...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.
.SUNDAY...South winds near 5 knots, increasing to around 10 knots.
Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth, becoming a light
chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Showers and
thunderstorms likely.
.MONDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Showers and
thunderstorms likely.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south 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>044-172045-
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-
432 AM EDT Thu Sep 17 2026

.TODAY...Northeast to east winds near 10 knots, increasing to
near 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to
moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...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 winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore
waters smooth to a light chop. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...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.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around
1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Showers likely
with a chance of thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.MONDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southeast 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>075-172045-
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-
432 AM EDT Thu Sep 17 2026

.TODAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave
Detail: Northeast to east 3 feet at 5 seconds. Showers likely
with a chance of thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave
Detail: East 3 feet at 5 seconds. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave
Detail: East 2 feet at 5 seconds. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East to southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas around
1 foot. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming
southeast to south. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.MONDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
A chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ033-034-172045-
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-
432 AM EDT Thu Sep 17 2026

.TODAY...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east 3 feet at 4 seconds.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east 3 feet at 4 seconds.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave
Detail: East 2 feet at 4 seconds. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1
foot. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Showers and thunderstorms likely.
.MONDAY...South winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.

$$