836
FZUS52 KKEY 191426
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
1026 AM EDT Sat Sep 19 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.

GMZ005-200230-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
1026 AM EDT Sat Sep 19 2026

.SYNOPSIS...
Light to gentle breezes will continue through the weekend with
winds mostly out of the east on Saturday and gradually shifting to
the south to southeast into Sunday. In addition, an increasingly
wet weather pattern will develop across the Florida Keys coastal
waters through early next week, as an upper-level low retrogrades
westward across the central Florida Peninsula and eventually
slides into the Gulf later in the weekend. As a result, scattered
to occasional numerous showers and thunderstorms will be a daily
occurence, with gusty winds, lightning strikes, blinding
downpours, and locally hazardous seas being the main hazards
mariners could encounter in the vicinity of this activity. The
upper-level low is forecast to move out of the area early next
week, with winds becoming more southerly and breezes remaining
mainly light to gentle, though occasional periods of moderate
breezes could occur at times. Rain chances will also continue to
remain elevated into next week, as deep moisture lingers across
the Florida Keys coastal waters in the wake of the departing
weather disturbance.

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of September
15, 2026...

64 NM south-southeast of Dry Tortugas Light, on Loggerhead Key
40 NM south-southeast of Cosgrove Shoal Light, off the Marquesas Keys
36 NM south-southeast of Sand Key Light, off Key West
35 NM southeast of Looe Key, off Big Pine Key
28 NM southeast of Sombrero Key Light, off Marathon
15 NM east-southeast of Alligator Reef Light, off Islamorada
 8 NM east-southeast of Molasses Reef Light, off Key Largo
 5 NM east-southeast of Carysfort Reef Light, off Ocean Reef

Gulf Stream Information Courtesy of the Naval Oceanographic Office.

$$

GMZ031-200230-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
1026 AM EDT Sat Sep 19 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Variable winds near 5 knots. Bay waters smooth.
A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming southeast. Bay
waters smooth to a light chop, becoming smooth. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming south around
5 knots. Bay waters smooth. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth to a
light chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.MONDAY...South to southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters
smooth to a light chop. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth to a
light chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...South winds near 5 knots. Bay waters smooth. A chance
of showers and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay
waters smooth to a light chop. A chance of thunderstorms. Showers
likely.
.WEDNESDAY...Southeast winds near 5 knots. Bay waters smooth. A
chance of thunderstorms. Showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 5 knots. Bay
waters smooth. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ032-035-200230-
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-
1026 AM EDT Sat Sep 19 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Nearshore waters smooth. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming southeast and
decreasing to 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters
smooth to a light chop, becoming smooth. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...South winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...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.
.MONDAY...South to southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Showers likely
with a chance of thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...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.
.TUESDAY...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.
.TUESDAY 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.
.WEDNESDAY...Southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth. Thunderstorms likely. Showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas
1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth. Showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ042>044-200230-
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-
1026 AM EDT Sat Sep 19 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1
foot. Nearshore waters smooth. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming southeast to south.
Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...South to southwest winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1
foot. Nearshore waters smooth. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...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 to southwest 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...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY 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.
.WEDNESDAY...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 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.

$$

GMZ052>055-072>075-200230-
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-
1026 AM EDT Sat Sep 19 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Wave Detail: East 1 foot at 4 seconds. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming south.
Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail: East to southeast 1 foot at 4
seconds. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Wave
Detail: Southeast 1 foot at 4 seconds. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.MONDAY...South to southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2
feet. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2
feet. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
1 to 2 feet. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ033-034-200230-
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-
1026 AM EDT Sat Sep 19 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Wave Detail: East 1 foot at 3 seconds. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Wave Detail: East 1 foot at 2 seconds. A chance of showers
and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...South winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. Wave
Detail: South 1 foot at 2 seconds. Showers likely with a chance
of thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds near 5 knots, increasing
to around 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. Showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms.
.MONDAY...South to southwest winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...South winds near 5 knots, becoming southeast to south
and increasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. A chance of thunderstorms. Showers likely.
.WEDNESDAY...Southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.

$$