Coastal Waters Forecast
Issued by NWS Key West, FL

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FZUS52 KKEY 221426
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
1026 AM EDT Fri Mar 22 2024

Florida Bay, Hawk Channel and Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef
to south of Dry Tortugas, and the extreme southeastern Gulf of
Mexico, 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.

GMZ005-222030-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
1026 AM EDT Fri Mar 22 2024

.SYNOPSIS...Strong east to southeast breezes will continue today
across the coastal waters of the Florida Keys as low pressure
develops in the Gulf of Mexico. These breezes will clock around to
the southeast to south tonight. Strong to potentially severe
thunderstorms will develop and roll into our waters later this
afternoon and into tonight. These thundery squalls may come in
multiple episodes today through Saturday, and will be capable of
damaging wind gusts, locally heavy rainfall, isolated large hail,
and perhaps a violent waterspout or two. The heavy weather will
depart Saturday evening as fresh to strong breezes shift to the
northwest. Breezes will shift quickly to the northeast then east
Monday and Monday night. Breezes will relax to gentle to moderate
by Tuesday.

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream is currently
unavailable.

$$

GMZ031-222030-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
1026 AM EDT Fri Mar 22 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT...

.THIS AFTERNOON...East to southeast winds near 20 knots. Bay
waters rough. Numerous showers and scattered thunderstorms. Bay
waters rougher and winds higher in and around thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Southeast winds near 20 knots, becoming south 20 to 25
knots after midnight. Bay waters rough, becoming very rough after
midnight. Widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 20 to 25 knots. Bay waters very
rough. Widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds near 20 knots. Bay
waters rough. Isolated showers and thunderstorms in the evening,
then isolated showers after midnight.
.SUNDAY...Northwest to north winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to
10 to 15 knots in the afternoon. Bay waters choppy, becoming a
light to moderate chop.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds increasing to near 15
knots. Bay waters becoming a moderate chop.
.MONDAY...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots, becoming east 15
to 20 knots in the afternoon. Bay waters a moderate chop,
becoming choppy.
.MONDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Bay waters choppy.
.TUESDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to
near 15 knots. Bay waters choppy, becoming a moderate chop.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds decreasing to 10 to 15
knots. Bay waters becoming a light to moderate chop.

$$

GMZ032-035-222030-
Bayside and Gulf side from Craig Key to west end of Seven Mile
Bridge-
Gulf of Mexico from west end of Seven Mile Bridge to Halfmoon
Shoal out to 5 Fathoms-
1026 AM EDT Fri Mar 22 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT...

.THIS AFTERNOON...Southeast winds near 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3
feet, except 4 to 5 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore
waters rough. Widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms.
Winds and seas higher in and around thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Southeast winds 20 to 25 knots, becoming south to
southwest after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 3 to 4 feet
west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters very rough.
Widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southwest to west winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 2 to
4 feet, except 4 to 5 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore
waters very rough. Widespread showers and scattered
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas
3 to 5 feet, except 5 to 6 feet west of the Marquesas Keys.
Nearshore waters very rough. Isolated showers and thunderstorms in
the evening, then isolated showers after midnight.
.SUNDAY...Northwest to north winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to
10 to 15 knots in the afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 feet, subsiding to 2
to 4 feet. West of the Marquesas Keys, seas 5 to 6 feet,
subsiding to 4 to 5 feet. Nearshore waters choppy, becoming a
light to moderate chop.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...North winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming northeast
near 15 knots after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 3 to 4
feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a light to
moderate chop, becoming a moderate chop.
.MONDAY...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet, except 3 to 4 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore
waters choppy.
.MONDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet,
except 4 to 5 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters
choppy.
.TUESDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet, except 3 to 5 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore
waters choppy.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds decreasing to 10 to 15
knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas
Keys. Nearshore waters becoming a light to moderate chop.

$$

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-
1026 AM EDT Fri Mar 22 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT...

.THIS AFTERNOON...East to southeast winds near 20 knots,
increasing to 20 to 25 knots. Seas 4 to 7 feet. Nearshore waters
rough, becoming very rough. Numerous showers and scattered
thunderstorms. Winds and seas higher in and around thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Southeast winds 20 to 25 knots, becoming south to
southwest after midnight. Seas 4 to 6 feet. Nearshore waters very
rough. Widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southwest to west winds near 25 knots. Seas 4 to 6
feet. Nearshore waters extremely rough. Widespread showers and
scattered thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas
3 to 4 feet, except 4 to 6 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light.
Nearshore waters very rough. Isolated showers and thunderstorms
in the evening, then isolated showers after midnight.
.SUNDAY...Northwest to north winds near 20 knots, decreasing to
near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, subsiding to 2 to 3 feet. West of
Cosgrove Shoal Light, seas 4 to 6 feet, subsiding to 3 to 4 feet.
Nearshore waters rough, a moderate chop.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds 10 to 15 knots,
increasing to near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 3 to 4 feet
west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters a light to
moderate chop, becoming a moderate chop.
.MONDAY...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to
4 feet. Nearshore waters choppy.
.MONDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet, except
4 to 5 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters
choppy.
.TUESDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to
4 feet. Nearshore waters choppy.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop.

$$

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-
1026 AM EDT Fri Mar 22 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT...

.THIS AFTERNOON...Southeast winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 5 to 8
feet. Numerous showers and scattered thunderstorms. Winds and seas
higher in and around thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Southeast winds 20 to 25 knots, becoming south to
southwest after midnight. Seas 5 to 7 feet. Widespread showers
and scattered thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southwest to west winds 25 to 30 knots. Seas building to
6 to 8 feet. Widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas
5 to 7 feet. Isolated showers and thunderstorms in the evening,
then isolated showers after midnight
.SUNDAY...Northwest to north winds near 20 knots, decreasing to
near 15 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, subsiding to 3 to 5 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...North winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming northeast
15 to 20 knots after midnight. Seas building to 4 to 6 feet,
except building to 6 to 7 feet off the Upper Keys due to a
northerly swell.
.MONDAY...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to
6 feet, except 6 to 7 feet off the Upper Keys due to a northerly
swell.
.MONDAY NIGHT...East winds near 20 knots. Seas 5 to 7 feet.
.TUESDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to
6 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas 3 to
5 feet.

$$

GMZ033-034-222030-
Gulf waters from East Cape Sable to Chokoloskee 20 to 60 NM out
and beyond 5 fathoms-
Gulf of Mexico including Dry Tortugas and Rebecca Shoal Channel-
1026 AM EDT Fri Mar 22 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT...

.THIS AFTERNOON...Southeast winds 20 to 25 knots, decreasing to
near 20 knots. Seas 4 to 7 feet, subsiding to 4 to 6 feet.
Widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms. Winds and seas
higher in and around thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Southeast winds 20 to 25 knots, becoming south to
southwest after midnight. Seas 4 to 6 feet. Widespread showers
and scattered thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 20 to 25 knots, becoming west to
northwest near 20 knots in the afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 feet.
Numerous showers and scattered thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds increasing to 20 to 25 knots.
Seas 5 to 6 feet. Isolated showers and thunderstorms in the
evening, then isolated showers after midnight.
.SUNDAY...Northwest to north winds near 20 knots, becoming north
10 to 15 knots in the afternoon. Seas 5 to 6 feet, subsiding to 3
to 5 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...North winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming northeast to
east 15 to 20 knots after midnight. Seas subsiding to 3 to 4
feet.
.MONDAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas building to 3 to 5
feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 20 knots. Seas 3 to
6 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds near 20 knots, decreasing to 15 to 20
knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet.

$$

LIW/JAM


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