154
FZUS52 KKEY 152033
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
433 PM EDT Sat Aug 15 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.

GMZ005-160845-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
433 PM EDT Sat Aug 15 2026

.SYNOPSIS...Gentle to moderate east to southeast breezes across
the Florida Keys will start to slacken before the start of the
work week. The subtropical ridge is expected to weaken as a mid
latitude trough descends into the Atlantic from the eastern United
States. Periods of light and variable breezes are possible early
next week as a result. Meanwhile, a Saharan Air Layer is forecast
to move across the Keys waters early next week. There is high
confidence shower coverage will be low for most of the forecast
period.

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of
August 13, 2026...

38 NM South of Dry Tortugas Light...on Loggerhead Key.
20 NM South of Cosgrove Shoal Light...off the Marquesas Keys.
17 NM South of Sand Key Light...off Key West.
21 NM South of Looe Key...off Big Pine Key.
18 NM Southeast of Sombrero Key Light...off Marathon.
 7 NM Southeast of Alligator Reef Light...off Islamorada.
 7 NM Southeast of Molasses Reef Light...off Key Largo.
 2 NM 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.

$$

GMZ031-160845-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
433 PM EDT Sat Aug 15 2026

.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a
light to moderate chop.
.SUNDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a
light chop.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds decreasing to 5 to 10
knots. Bay waters becoming smooth to a light chop.
.MONDAY...East to southeast winds near 5 knots. Bay waters
smooth.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots. Bay waters smooth.
.TUESDAY...Southwest to west winds near 5 knots. Bay waters
smooth. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth to a
light chop.
.WEDNESDAY...West to northwest winds near 5 knots, becoming
southwest in the afternoon. Bay waters smooth, becoming smooth to
a light chop. A slight chance of showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay
waters smooth to a light chop.
.THURSDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth to a
light chop. A slight chance of showers.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds near 5 knots. Bay
waters smooth. A slight chance of showers.

$$

GMZ032-035-160845-
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-
433 PM EDT Sat Aug 15 2026

.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2
feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A slight chance
of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light chop.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light chop.
.MONDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1
foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Nearshore waters smooth.
.TUESDAY...Northwest to north winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Nearshore waters smooth.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Nearshore waters smooth.
.WEDNESDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming west around
5 knots in the afternoon. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters
smooth.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds near 5 knots, becoming
southwest after midnight. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters
smooth. A slight chance of showers.
.THURSDAY...South winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of showers.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ042>044-160845-
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-
433 PM EDT Sat Aug 15 2026

.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop.
.SUNDAY...East winds near 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Nearshore
waters a light chop.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds near 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light chop.
.MONDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming variable near 5 knots.
Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop,
becoming smooth.
.MONDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas around
1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth.
.TUESDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters smooth.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Nearshore waters smooth.
.WEDNESDAY...Northwest to north winds near 5 knots, becoming
southwest to west in the afternoon. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth, becoming smooth to a light chop.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds near 5 knots, becoming
southeast to south after midnight. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore
waters smooth.
.THURSDAY...Southeast to south winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Nearshore waters smooth.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas
1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of
showers.

$$

GMZ052>055-072>075-160845-
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-
433 PM EDT Sat Aug 15 2026

.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4
feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Wave Detail: East 4 feet at 5
seconds.
.SUNDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3
feet. Wave Detail: East 3 feet at 5 seconds.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave
Detail: East 3 feet at 5 seconds.
.MONDAY...East winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10 knots.
Seas 2 to 3 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
.TUESDAY...Northeast to east winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2
feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming
east after midnight. Seas around 1 foot.
.WEDNESDAY...East to southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds near 5 knots,
becoming southeast after midnight. Seas 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...East to southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas around
1 foot.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. A slight chance of showers.

$$

GMZ033-034-160845-
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-
433 PM EDT Sat Aug 15 2026

.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas building
to 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: East to southeast 2 feet at 4
seconds. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...East winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10 knots.
Seas 1 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: East 2 feet at 4 seconds.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave
Detail: East 1 foot at 3 seconds.
.MONDAY...Northeast to east winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming north
to northeast. Seas around 1 foot.
.MONDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds near 5 knots. Seas
1 foot or less.
.TUESDAY...Northwest to north winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1
foot.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming
northwest after midnight. Seas around 1 foot.
.WEDNESDAY...Northwest winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds near 5 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. A slight chance of showers.
.THURSDAY...South to southwest winds near 5 knots. Seas around
1 foot. A slight chance of showers.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds near 5 knots, becoming
southeast to south after midnight. Seas around 1 foot. A slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

MJV/AJP