193
FZUS52 KKEY 220816
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
416 AM EDT Wed Jul 22 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.

GMZ005-222030-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
416 AM EDT Wed Jul 22 2026

.SYNOPSIS...As of 8 PM EDT, Tropical Storm Bertha was centered
over the northern Gulf waters. Bertha is expected to continue
moving slowly to the west-northwest or west tonight through
Friday, moving Tropical Storm Berth near or along the northern
Gulf coast. Otherwise, an Atlantic ridge of high pressure will
extend to the Florida Peninsula for the next several days.
Gentle breezes will briefly become moderate overnight through
early Thursday, then gradually slacken to light to gentle breezes
by Friday, peaking overnight and lull during the day. Light winds
are expected this weekend.


The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of July 17,
2026...

49 NM South of Dry Tortugas Light...on Loggerhead Key.
51 NM South of Cosgrove Shoal Light...off the Marquesas Keys.
38 NM South of Sand Key Light...off Key West.
22 NM South of Looe Key...off Big Pine Key.
13 NM South of Sombrero Key Light...off Marathon.
 6 NM Southeast of Alligator Reef Light...off Islamorada.
 2 NM Southeast of Molasses Reef Light...off Key Largo.
 1 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.

$$

GMZ031-222030-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
416 AM EDT Wed Jul 22 2026

.TODAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing to
near 10 knots. Bay waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a
light chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots early, increasing
to 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a light chop, becoming a light to
moderate chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a light to
moderate chop. A chance of showers with a slight chance of
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots,
decreasing to near 10 knots. Bay waters a light to moderate chop,
becoming a light chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Bay waters
a light chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Bay waters
a light chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters
smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds near 5 knots. Bay
waters smooth.
.SUNDAY...South to southwest winds near 5 knots, becoming
southwest to west 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth, becoming
smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters
smooth to a light chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ032-035-222030-
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-
416 AM EDT Wed Jul 22 2026

.TODAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots, briefly decreasing
to near 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except 2 to 3
feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a light to
moderate chop, becoming a light chop. A slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast 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.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers
with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots,
decreasing to near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a
light to moderate chop, becoming a light chop. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2
feet. Nearshore waters a light chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas
1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming
variable near 5 knots in the afternoon. Seas around 1 foot,
subsiding to 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth to a light
chop, becoming smooth. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Nearshore waters smooth.
.SUNDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming west to northwest 5
to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth,
becoming smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around
1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ042>044-222030-
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-
416 AM EDT Wed Jul 22 2026

.TODAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots, briefly
decreasing to near 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a light chop.
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3
feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A slight chance
of showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots,
decreasing to near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a
light to moderate chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2
feet. Nearshore waters a light chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming south
to southwest. Seas 1 to 2 feet, subsiding to around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas around
1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds near 5 knots, becoming southwest to west
5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth,
becoming smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ052>055-072>075-222030-
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-
416 AM EDT Wed Jul 22 2026

.TODAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Wave Detail: East to southeast 3 feet at 5 seconds and
west 2 feet at 7 seconds. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3
feet. Wave Detail: East 3 feet at 5 seconds and west 1 foot at 7
seconds. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east 3 feet at 4 seconds and
west 1 foot at 7 seconds. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots,
decreasing to near 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East winds near 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet. A chance
of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas
around 2 feet. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming variable near
5 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 5 knots, becoming
east to southeast 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
.SUNDAY...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming west
to northwest. Seas around 1 foot.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming
southwest to west. Seas around 1 foot. A slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ033-034-222030-
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-
416 AM EDT Wed Jul 22 2026

.TODAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing to near 10
knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: Southeast 2 feet at 4
seconds and west 2 feet at 7 seconds. A slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing to near
10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: East to southeast 2 feet
at 3 seconds and west 2 feet at 7 seconds. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10
knots. Seas around 2 feet. Wave Detail: East 2 feet at 4 seconds
and west 2 feet at 7 seconds. A chance of showers with a slight
chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 5 to 10 knots,
increasing to near 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East winds near 10 knots, briefly decreasing to 5 to 10
knots. Seas around 2 feet. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas
around 2 feet. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming
south to southwest near 5 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, subsiding to
around 1 foot. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1
foot. A slight chance of showers.
.SUNDAY...Southwest to west winds near 5 knots, becoming west to
northwest 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. A slight chance of
showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. A chance of thunderstorms with a slight chance of
showers.

$$