840
FZUS52 KKEY 151424
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
1024 AM EDT Tue Sep 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.

GMZ005-160230-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
1024 AM EDT Tue Sep 15 2026

.SYNOPSIS...
Light east to southeasterly breezes will gradually back to the
northeast to east and freshen this afternoon and evening, as a
continental high builds southward towards our area. Expect breezes
to peak in the moderate range this evening through late
Wednesday. Near normal rain chances will trend considerably
upwards through mid week, as broad troughing in the western North
Atlantic and increased moisture retrogrades southwestward towards
the Keys.

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of September
11, 2026...

26 NM south of Dry Tortugas Light, on Loggerhead Key
15 NM south of Cosgrove Shoal Light, off the Marquesas Keys
15 NM south of Sand Key Light, off Key West
11 NM south-southeast of Looe Key, off Big Pine Key
 8 NM southeast 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 east-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.

$$

GMZ031-160230-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
1024 AM EDT Tue Sep 15 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming
northeast to east 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters smooth to a light
chop, becoming a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots. Bay waters a
moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a
light to moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots. Bay
waters a moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a light chop.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a light
to moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5
to 10 knots. Bay waters a light chop, becoming smooth to a light
chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters
smooth to a light chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth to a
light chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters
smooth to a light chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ032-035-160230-
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-
1024 AM EDT Tue Sep 15 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming
northeast to east 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 foot or less, building to
1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop, becoming a
light to moderate chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2
feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore
waters a moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except
around 2 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a
light to moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet,
except 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a
moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing to near 10 knots.
Seas 1 to 2 feet, except around 2 feet west of the Marquesas Keys.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a light chop.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet,
except around 2 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters
a light to moderate chop. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, 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. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ042>044-160230-
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-
1024 AM EDT Tue Sep 15 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming
northeast to east 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, building to
around 2 feet. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop, becoming
a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3
feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop. Showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers
and thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Nearshore waters a moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing to near 10
knots. Seas around 2 feet, subsiding to 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore
waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a light chop. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. Showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5
to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop,
becoming smooth to a light chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A chance
of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots.
Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ052>055-072>075-160230-
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-
1024 AM EDT Tue Sep 15 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, becoming
northeast to east 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet, building to
2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: East to southeast 2 feet at 4 seconds.
A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. Wave Detail: East 4 feet at 5 seconds.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave
Detail: East 3 feet at 5 seconds. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing to near 10
knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5
to 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots.
Seas 1 to 2 feet. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ033-034-160230-
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-
1024 AM EDT Tue Sep 15 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming
northeast to east near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot, building to 1
to 2 feet. Wave Detail: East to southeast 1 foot at 2 seconds. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to near 15
knots. Seas around 2 feet, building to 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail:
East 2 feet at 3 seconds. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east 2 feet at 4 seconds.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots, increasing to 15 to
20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 15 knots, decreasing to near 10
knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, subsiding to
around 2 feet. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5
to 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet, subsiding to 1 to 2 feet.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
1 to 2 feet, subsiding to around 1 foot. Showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southeast to south winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds near 5 knots. Seas
1 foot or less. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

BT/11