Coastal Waters Forecast
Issued by NWS Key West, FL

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FZUS52 KKEY 161406
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
1006 AM EDT Wed Jul 16 2025

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.

Wave Detail will include details about the period and direction
of origin for the highest energy waves. Long-period swells coming
from a different direction than the wind would be included in the
Wave Detail.

GMZ005-170215-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
1006 AM EDT Wed Jul 16 2025

.SYNOPSIS...An area of low pressure will continue to slide
westward along the northern Gulf coast. Meanwhile, a strong area
of high pressure will build westward across the North Atlantic
towards the Florida Peninsula, supporting freshening east to
southeast breezes over the next several days. As a second, weak
area of high pressure builds over the eastern Gulf for the second
half of the weekend, easterly breezes will slacken, becoming
light to gentle.

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of July 15...

18 NM South of Dry Tortugas Light...on Loggerhead Key.
 3 NM South of Cosgrove Shoal Light...off the Marquesas Keys.
 1 NM South of Sand Key Light...off Key West.
 4 NM South of Looe Key...off Big Pine Key.
 4 NM Southeast of Sombrero Key Light...off Marathon.
10 NM Southeast of Alligator Reef Light...off Islamorada.
 6 NM Southeast of Molasses Reef Light...off Key Largo.
 3 NM Southeast of Carysfort Reef Light...off Ocean Reef.

Gulf Stream Information Courtesy of the National Weather Service in
Key West based on products from NASA SPoRT.

$$

GMZ031-170215-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
1006 AM EDT Wed Jul 16 2025

.THIS AFTERNOON...Southeast winds near 10 knots, increasing to 10
to 15 knots. Bay waters a light chop, becoming a light to
moderate chop. Numerous showers and scattered thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to
near 15 knots. Bay waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a
moderate chop. Scattered showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a
light to moderate chop. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 15 knots,
increasing to 15 to 20 knots. Bay waters a moderate chop, becoming
choppy. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to
near 15 knots. Bay waters choppy, becoming a moderate chop.
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Bay waters a moderate
chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a light to
moderate chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing to near 10
knots. Bay waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a light chop.
Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...East near 10 knots. Bay waters a light chop. Scattered
showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters
smooth to a light chop. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ032-035-170215-
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-
1006 AM EDT Wed Jul 16 2025

.THIS AFTERNOON...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2
feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. Numerous showers
and scattered thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to
near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to
moderate chop, becoming a moderate chop. Scattered showers and
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. Scattered
showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 15 knots,
increasing to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except building to
2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a
moderate chop, becoming choppy. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to
near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of the
Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters choppy, becoming a moderate chop.
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except
around 2 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a
moderate chop. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2
feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. Isolated showers
and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots,
decreasing to near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, subsiding to around
1 foot. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a
light chop. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots.
Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop.
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ042>044-170215-
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-
1006 AM EDT Wed Jul 16 2025

.THIS AFTERNOON...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2
feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. Numerous showers
and scattered thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to
near 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet, building to 2 to 3 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a moderate
chop. Scattered showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. Scattered
showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 15 knots,
increasing to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, building to 3 to 4
feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop,
becoming choppy. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to
near 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, subsiding
to 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters choppy, becoming a moderate
chop. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Nearshore waters a moderate chop. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10 to 15
knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, subsiding to around 2 feet. Nearshore
waters a moderate chop, becoming a light to moderate chop.
Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. Isolated showers and
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...East winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore
waters a light chop. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds near 10 knots, becoming east to
southeast and decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet,
subsiding to around 1 foot. Nearshore waters a light chop,
becoming smooth to a light chop. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ052>055-072>075-170215-
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-
1006 AM EDT Wed Jul 16 2025

.THIS AFTERNOON...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2
feet, building to 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: East to southeast 3
feet at 5 seconds. Scattered showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to
near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, building to 2 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. Wave Detail: East 3 feet at 5 seconds.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to
4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Wave Detail: East to southeast
3 feet at 5 seconds. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 15 knots,
increasing to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5
feet, building to 4 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Scattered
showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to
near 15 knots. Seas 4 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet, subsiding
to 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Scattered showers and
isolated thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10 to 15
knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, subsiding to 2
to 3 feet. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing to near 10 knots.
Seas 2 to 3 feet. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet, subsiding to around 2 feet. Scattered showers and
isolated thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ033-034-170215-
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-
1006 AM EDT Wed Jul 16 2025

.THIS AFTERNOON...Southeast to south winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas
around 2 feet. Wave Detail: Southeast to south 2 feet at 4
seconds and northwest 1 foot at 4 seconds. Numerous showers and
scattered thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet.
Wave Detail: East to southeast 2 feet at 3 seconds. Scattered
showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2
feet. Wave Detail: East to southeast 2 feet at 4 seconds.
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots,
increasing to near 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet, building to 2 to
3 feet. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10
to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to near 15
knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East winds near 15 knots, becoming east to southeast
and decreasing to near 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet, subsiding to
1 to 2 feet. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...Northeast to east winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.

$$