281
FZUS52 KKEY 240828
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
428 AM EDT Mon Aug 24 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.

GMZ005-242030-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
428 AM EDT Mon Aug 24 2026

.SYNOPSIS...
A split ridge pattern remains in place across the Florida Keys
coastal waters. East to southeast breezes will become more
established from this morning through Thursday, becoming generally
gentle, at times moderate during the overnight hours, as North
Atlantic ridging builds westward. Shower chances will gradually
increase as the week progresses.

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of August
19, 2026...

37 NM south of Dry Tortugas Light, on Loggerhead Key
20 NM south-southeast of Cosgrove Shoal Light, off the Marquesas Keys
14 NM south-southeast of Sand Key Light, off Key West
10 NM south-southeast of Looe Key, off Big Pine Key
10 NM south-southeast of Sombrero Key Light, off Marathon
 3 NM southeast of Alligator Reef Light, off Islamorada
 1 NM west-northwest of Molasses Reef Light, off Key Largo
 1 NM east-southeast of Carysfort Reef Light, off Ocean Reef

Gulf Stream Information Courtesy of the Naval Oceanographic
Office.

$$

GMZ031-242030-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
428 AM EDT Mon Aug 24 2026

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

$$

GMZ032-035-242030-
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-
428 AM EDT Mon Aug 24 2026

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

$$

GMZ042>044-242030-
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-
428 AM EDT Mon Aug 24 2026

.TODAY...Southeast winds near 5 knots, becoming east to
southeast and increasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters smooth, becoming smooth to a light chop. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to near 10 knots.
Seas around 1 foot, building to 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters
smooth to a light chop, becoming a light chop. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...East winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore
waters a light chop. A chance of showers with a slight chance of
thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas
around 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2
feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas
around feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2
feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas
1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop. A chance of showers
and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers
and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ052>055-072>075-242030-
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-
428 AM EDT Mon Aug 24 2026

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

$$

GMZ033-034-242030-
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-
428 AM EDT Mon Aug 24 2026

.TODAY...East to southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas around
1 foot. Wave Detail: East to southeast 1 foot at 2 seconds. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds near 5 knots, becoming east and
increasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Wave Detail:
East to southeast 1 foot at 3 seconds. A slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Wave
Detail: East to southeast 1 foot at 3 seconds. A chance of
showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming east to
southeast and increasing to 10 to 15 knots after midnight. Seas 1
to 2 feet, building to around 2 feet. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around
2 feet. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots,
becoming southeast and increasing to near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3
feet. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing to near 10
knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, subsiding to 1 to 2 feet. Showers likely
with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around
1 foot. A chance of thunderstorms with a slight chance of
showers.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

MJV