Short Term Forecast
Issued by NWS Key West, FL
Issued by NWS Key West, FL
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241 FPUS72 KKEY 182245 NOWKEY Short Term Forecast National Weather Service Key West FL 645 PM EDT Fri Sep 18 2026 FLZ076-078-GMZ031>035-042>044-052>055-072>075-182345- Monroe Upper Keys-Monroe Lower Keys- Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and Buttonwood Sound- Bayside and Gulfside from Craig Key to west end of Seven Mile Bridge- 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- Gulf of America from west end of Seven Mile Bridge to Halfmoon Shoal out to 5 Fathoms- 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- 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- Including the Communities of Key Largo and Key West 645 PM EDT Fri Sep 18 2026 .NOW... Through 800 pm, numerous showers and scattered thunderstorms across the SE Gulf and the nearshore waters surrounding the Lower Keys will continue to drift erratically or remain nearly stationary. Additionally, an outflow boundary continues to move to the southwest to west at near 20 knots with showers and thunderstorms along it. Mariners encountering the stronger activity across the SE Gulf and nearshore waters north of the Lower Keys can expect blinding downpours reducing visibility, wind gusts of 25 to 30 knots, and occasional to frequent lightning strikes. On land, some island communities of the Lower Keys, especially east of Big Coppitt Key can expect an additional half to one inch of rainfall with locally higher amounts in the heaviest activity. $$ MJV