372
FZUS52 KKEY 260227
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
1027 PM EDT Fri Sep 25 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.

GMZ005-261430-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
1027 PM EDT Fri Sep 25 2026

.SYNOPSIS...
An early season cold front will remain draped across the distant
Straits of Florida for much of the weekend, supporting light to
gentle northerlies. A Nor`easter off the Eastern Seaboard will
support a northeasterly swell with large periods in the eastern
marine zones through Sunday. The front will push back northward on
Monday through the marine zones. Winds will then clock back
around to the southeast to south for early next week, also
accompanied by increasing rain and thunder chances.

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of September
15, 2026...

64 NM south-southeast of Dry Tortugas Light, on Loggerhead Key
40 NM south-southeast of Cosgrove Shoal Light, off the Marquesas Keys
36 NM south-southeast of Sand Key Light, off Key West
35 NM southeast of Looe Key, off Big Pine Key
28 NM southeast of Sombrero Key Light, off Marathon
15 NM east-southeast of Alligator Reef Light, off Islamorada
 8 NM east-southeast of Molasses Reef Light, off Key Largo
 5 NM east-southeast of Carysfort Reef Light, off Ocean Reef

Gulf Stream Information Courtesy of the Naval Oceanographic Office.

$$

GMZ031-261430-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
1027 PM EDT Fri Sep 25 2026

.OVERNIGHT...North to northeast winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing
to near 10 knots late. Bay waters a light to moderate chop,
becoming a light chop. A slight chance of showers.
.SATURDAY...North to northeast winds near 10 knots, becoming
variable near 5 knots. Bay waters a light chop, becoming smooth.
A slight chance of showers.
.SATURDAY NIGHT..Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming north to
northeast and increasing to 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth,
becoming smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of showers.
.SUNDAY...North to northeast winds near 5 knots, becoming
variable. Bay waters smooth. A slight chance of showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots. Bay waters smooth. A
slight chance of showers.
.MONDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming southeast to south.
Bay waters smooth. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds
near 5 knots. Bay waters smooth. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to
near 10 knots. Bay waters smooth to a light chop, becoming a light
chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots,
increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a light chop, becoming a
light to moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ032-035-261430-
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-
1027 PM EDT Fri Sep 25 2026

.OVERNIGHT...North to northeast winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing
to near 10 knots late. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light
to moderate chop, becoming a light chop. A slight chance of
showers.
.SATURDAY...North to northeast winds near 10 knots, becoming
northwest to north an decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2
feet. Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming smooth to a light
chop. A slight chance of showers.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A slight
chance of showers.
.SUNDAY...North to northeast winds near 5 knots, becoming
variable. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth. A slight
chance of showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of showers.
.MONDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming southeast to south.
Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds
near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to
near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters smooth to a
light chop, becoming a light chop. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots,
increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, building to 2 to
3 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming a light to
moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ042-261430-
Hawk Channel from Ocean Reef to Craig Key out to the reef-
1027 PM EDT Fri Sep 25 2026

.OVERNIGHT...North to northeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2
feet. Nearshore waters a light chop. A chance of showers.
.SATURDAY...North to northeast winds near 10 knots, becoming
variable near 5 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light
chop, becoming smooth. A slight chance of showers.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds near 5 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of
showers.
.SUNDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Variable near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of showers.
.MONDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming southeast to south
Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds
near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to
near 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters smooth to a
light chop, becoming a light chop. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots,
increasing to near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5
feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a
moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ043-044-261430-
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-
1027 PM EDT Fri Sep 25 2026

.OVERNIGHT...North to northeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 3
feet. Nearshore waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers.
.SATURDAY...North to northeast winds near 10 knots, becoming
variable near 5 knots. Seas 1 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters a light
chop, becoming smooth. A slight chance of showers.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds near 5 knots. Seas
1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of showers.
.SUNDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Variable near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of showers.
.MONDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming southeast to south
Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds
near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to
near 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters smooth to a
light chop, becoming a light chop. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots,
increasing to near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5
feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a
moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ052-072-261430-
Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef to Craig Key out 20 NM-
Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef to Craig Key 20 to 60 NM out-
1027 PM EDT Fri Sep 25 2026

.OVERNIGHT...North to northeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 3 to
4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet due to northeast swell. Wave
Detail: North to northeast 4 feet at 11 seconds. A chance of
showers.
.SATURDAY...North winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10
knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet due to northeast
swell. Wave Detail: North to northeast 4 feet at 12 seconds. A
slight chance of showers.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 2
to 3 feet. Wave Detail: North to northeast 3 feet at 12 seconds.
A slight chance of showers.
.SUNDAY...North to northeast winds near 5 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. A slight chance of showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. A
slight chance of showers.
.MONDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming southeast to south.
Seas around 1 foot. A chance of showers with a slight chance of
thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds
5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to
near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, building to 2 to 3 feet. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas
3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Showers likely with a chance
of thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ053>055-073>075-261430-
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 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-
1027 PM EDT Fri Sep 25 2026

.OVERNIGHT...North to northeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3
feet. Wave Detail: North 2 feet at 4 seconds. A slight chance of
showers.
.SATURDAY...North winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10
knots. Seas around 2 feet, subsiding to 1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail:
North to northeast 2 feet at 7 seconds. A slight chance of
showers.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1
to 2 feet. Wave Detail: North to northeast 2 feet at 5 seconds. A
slight chance of showers.
.SUNDAY...North to northeast winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 to 2
feet. A slight chance of showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. A
slight chance of showers.
.MONDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming southeast to south.
Seas around 1 foot. A chance of showers with a slight chance of
thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds
5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to
near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, building to 2 to 3 feet. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas
3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Showers likely with a chance
of thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ033-034-261430-
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-
1027 PM EDT Fri Sep 25 2026

.OVERNIGHT...North to northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around
2 feet. Wave Detail: Northwest to north 2 feet at 5 seconds. A
slight chance of showers.
.SATURDAY...Northeast winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10
knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail: North 2 feet at 4 seconds. A
slight chance of showers.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail: Northwest to north 1 foot at 5 seconds.
A slight chance of showers.
.SUNDAY...North to northeast winds near 5 knots. Seas around
1 foot. A slight chance of showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
A slight chance of showers.
.MONDAY...Southeast to south winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds near 5 knots. Seas 1
foot or less. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10
knots. Seas around 1 foot. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to
near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, building to around 2 feet.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2
to 3 feet, building to 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.

$$

MJV/BT/DM