044
FZUS52 KKEY 300237
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
1037 PM EDT Tue Sep 29 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.

GMZ005-301445-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
1037 PM EDT Tue Sep 29 2026

.SYNOPSIS...
A high pressure system across the eastern third of the U.S. will
steadily shift east into the western Atlantic through tonight. As
it does, gentle east to southeast breezes will remain in place.
Thereafter, this high will shift further offshore and merge with
an existing high pressure across the subtropical Atlantic and
subsequently build through the remainder of the week. This will
promote freshening breezes with an increasing likelihood of
moderate to fresh breezes beginning Wednesday, continuing through
late week. There is a good chance that marine Cautions may be
required for portions of Keys waters at that time, and Advisories
cannot be ruled out. In addition, a very wet pattern will remain
across the Keys over the next few days, 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.

$$

GMZ031-301445-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
1037 PM EDT Tue Sep 29 2026

.OVERNIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Bay waters
a light chop. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to near 15
knots. Bay waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a moderate
chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Bay waters choppy.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Bay waters
choppy. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Bay
waters choppy. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Bay waters
choppy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Bay waters a moderate
chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East winds near 15 knots. Bay waters a moderate chop.
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a light
to moderate chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a light to
moderate chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth to a
light chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ032-035-301445-
Bayside and Gulf side from Craig Key to west end of Seven Mile
Bridge-
Gulf of Mexico from west end of Seven Mile Bridge to Halfmoon
Shoal out to 5 Fathoms-
1037 PM EDT Tue Sep 29 2026

.OVERNIGHT...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. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to 15 to 20
knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. West of the Marquesas Keys, seas around
2 feet, building to 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore
waters a light to moderate chop, becoming choppy. Showers likely
with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet,
except 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet west of the Marquesas
Keys. Nearshore waters choppy. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet, except 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet west of the
Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters choppy. Showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas
2 to 3 feet, except 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet west of
the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters choppy. Showers likely with
a chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3
feet, except 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet west of the
Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters choppy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 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
3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet west of the Marquesas Keys.
Nearshore waters a moderate chop. A slight 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 slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...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 slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ042>044-301445-
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-
1037 PM EDT Tue Sep 29 2026

.OVERNIGHT...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 winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to 15 to 20
knots. Seas around 2 feet, building to 2 to 4 feet, occasionally
to 5 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming
choppy. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet. Nearshore waters choppy. Showers likely
with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to
5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Nearshore waters choppy. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas
3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Nearshore waters choppy.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to
5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Nearshore waters choppy. A chance
of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters choppy. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East 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 NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore
waters a light to moderate chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 3 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ052>055-072>075-301445-
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-
1037 PM EDT Tue Sep 29 2026

.OVERNIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Wave Detail: East to southeast 3 feet at 4 seconds.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds near 15 knots, increasing to 15 to 20
knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, building to 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to
6 feet. Wave Detail: East 4 feet at 5 seconds. Showers likely
with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds near 20 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet,
occasionally to 8 feet. Wave Detail: East 6 feet at 6 seconds.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 5 to
6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas
4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet. Showers likely with a chance
of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to
6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 4 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 4 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ033-034-301445-
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-
1037 PM EDT Tue Sep 29 2026

.OVERNIGHT...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave
Detail: Southeast 2 feet at 3 seconds. Showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing
to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Wave
Detail: East to southeast 3 feet at 4 seconds. Showers and
thunderstorms likely.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet. Wave Detail: East to southeast 5 feet at
5 seconds. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to
5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Showers and thunderstorms likely.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas
3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Showers likely with a chance
of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to
5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to
4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to
4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to
4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 3 feet. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$