984
FZUS52 KKEY 020328
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
1028 PM EST Sun Mar 1 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.

Wave Detail will include details about the period and direction
of origin for the highest energy waves. Long-period swells coming
from a different direction than the wind would be included in the
Wave Detail.

GMZ005-020930-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
1028 PM EST Sun Mar 1 2026

.SYNOPSIS...
A weak high pressure system over the southeastern United States
will push southeastward across Florida overnight as a weak trough
pulls out into the Atlantic. As a result, light breezes will pick
up moderately out of the northeast. Thereafter, a large and
robust high will drive southeastward off of North America into the
Atlantic. This will usher in a prolonged period of moderate to
fresh breezes across the area through the remainder of the
forecast. A mix of cautions and possibly Advisories may be
required beginning around Monday Night.


The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of February
26...

14 NM South of Dry Tortugas Light...on Loggerhead Key.
 4 NM South of Cosgrove Shoal Light...off the Marquesas Keys.
 2 NM South of Sand Key Light...off Key West.
 9 NM South of Looe Key...off Big Pine Key.
14 NM Southeast of Sombrero Key Light...off Marathon.
12 NM Southeast of Alligator Reef Light...off Islamorada.
 5 NM Southeast of Molasses Reef Light...off Key Largo.
 3 NM Southeast of Carysfort Reef Light...off Ocean Reef.

Gulf Stream Information Courtesy of the National Weather Service in
Key West based on products from NASA SPoRT and RTOFS.

$$

GMZ031-020930-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
1028 PM EST Sun Mar 1 2026

.OVERNIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a
light to moderate chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots.
Bay waters a moderate chop. Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots. Bay
waters a moderate chop. Isolated showers.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds near 15 knots. Bay waters a moderate
chop. Isolated showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots.
Bay waters a moderate chop. Isolated showers.

$$

GMZ032-035-020930-
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 PM EST Sun Mar 1 2026

.OVERNIGHT...Northeast to east winds increasing to 10 to 15
knots. Seas building to 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters becoming a
light to moderate chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10
to 15 knots. Seas subsiding to 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a
moderate chop, becoming a light to moderate chop. Isolated
showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds increasing to near 15
knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas
Keys. Nearshore waters becoming a moderate chop. Isolated
showers.
.TUESDAY...Northeast to 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. Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to 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. Isolated showers.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except 2 to 3
feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a moderate
chop. Isolated showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 knots.
Seas 1 to 2 feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys.
Nearshore waters a moderate chop. Isolated showers.
.FRIDAY...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except
building to 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, west of the
Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a moderate chop. Isolated
showers.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet, except around 4 feet, occasionally to
5 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a moderate
chop. Isolated showers.

$$

GMZ042>044-020930-
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 PM EST Sun Mar 1 2026

.OVERNIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to
near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to
moderate chop, becoming a moderate chop. Isolated showers and
thunderstorms.
.MONDAY...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots. Seas 1 to
3 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Nearshore waters choppy. Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Nearshore waters choppy. Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas
3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters choppy.
Isolated showers.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters choppy. Isolated showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20
knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters
choppy. Isolated showers.
.FRIDAY...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop.
Isolated showers.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop.
Isolated showers.

$$

GMZ052>055-072>075-020930-
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 PM EST Sun Mar 1 2026

.OVERNIGHT...Northeast to east winds increasing to near 15 knots.
Seas building to 2 to 4 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east 2
feet at 4 seconds. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.MONDAY...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to
4 feet, building to 3 to 5 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east 3
feet at 5 seconds. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas
building to 4 to 6 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east
6 feet at 6 seconds. Scattered showers.
.TUESDAY...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to 6
feet, occasionally to 7 feet. Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas
4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 7 feet. Isolated showers.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet. Isolated showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet. Scattered showers.
.THURSDAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet. Isolated showers.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet. Isolated showers.
.FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to 6
feet, occasionally to 8 feet. Scattered showers.

$$

GMZ033-034-020930-
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 PM EST Sun Mar 1 2026

.OVERNIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 10 knots, increasing to
10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east
2 feet at 3 seconds. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10
to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: North to northeast 2
feet at 4 seconds. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Wave Detail: East 2 feet at 3 seconds and northwest to
north 1 foot at 4 seconds. Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots, decreasing to
10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet.
Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds increasing to near 15
knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Isolated showers.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10 to 15
knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Isolated showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds increasing to near 15 knots. Seas 2
to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Isolated showers.
.THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2
to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Isolated showers.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to
4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Isolated showers.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. Isolated showers.

$$