Coastal Waters Forecast
Issued by NWS Key West, FL

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FZUS52 KKEY 271433
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
1033 AM EDT Wed Mar 27 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.

GMZ005-272045-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
1033 AM EDT Wed Mar 27 2024

.SYNOPSIS...Southeast light to moderate breezes this afternoon
will veer to the south tonight through early Thursday ahead of the
next cold front which will blast into the Keys Thursday
afternoon. Expect a period of strong breezes Thursday afternoon
and Thursday night on the back side of the cold front. Fresh
northeasterly breezes on Friday will diminish and veer to the
east, then southeast Saturday through Sunday.

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

$$

GMZ031-272045-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
1033 AM EDT Wed Mar 27 2024

.THIS AFTERNOON...Southeast winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10
to 15 knots. Bay waters a moderate chop, becoming a light to
moderate chop.
.TONIGHT...Southeast to south winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a
light to moderate chop. Isolated showers after midnight.
.THURSDAY...South to southwest winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming
west to northwest 20 to 25 knots in the afternoon. Bay waters a
light to moderate chop, becoming very rough. Scattered showers
and isolated thunderstorms in the morning, then isolated showers
in the afternoon.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds 20 to 25 knots,
becoming north to northeast near 20 knots. Bay waters very rough,
becoming rough.
.FRIDAY...Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Bay waters choppy.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots,
decreasing to near 15 knots. Bay waters choppy, becoming a
moderate chop.
.SATURDAY...East winds decreasing to 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters
becoming a light to moderate chop.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a light
to moderate chop.
.SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15
knots. Bay waters a light to moderate chop.

$$

GMZ032-035-272045-
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-
1033 AM EDT Wed Mar 27 2024

.THIS AFTERNOON...Southeast winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10
to 15 knots early. Seas 1 to 3 feet, subsiding to 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a moderate chop, becoming a light to moderate
chop.
.TONIGHT...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming southeast to
south. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate
chop. Isolated showers after midnight.
.THURSDAY...South to southwest winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming
northwest 20 to 25 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, building to 2 to 4
feet. West of the Marquesas Keys, seas 2 to 3 feet, building to 4
to 6 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming
very rough in the afternoon. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms in the morning, then isolated showers in the
afternoon.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds near 25 knots,
becoming north to northeast 20 to 25 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet,
except 6 to 8 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters
extremely rough, becoming very rough.
.FRIDAY...North to northeast winds near 20 knots, becoming
northeast and briefly 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 6 to 7 feet, subsiding to 4 to 5 feet.
Nearshore waters rough, becoming a light to moderate chop.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing
to near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 3 to 4 feet west of
the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters choppy, becoming a moderate
chop.
.SATURDAY...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 3
to 4 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a moderate
chop.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East 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.
.SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15
knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas
Keys. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop.

$$

GMZ042>044-272045-
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-
1033 AM EDT Wed Mar 27 2024

.THIS AFTERNOON...Southeast winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10
to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop,
becoming a light to moderate chop.
.TONIGHT...Southeast to south winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3
feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. Isolated showers
after midnight.
.THURSDAY...South to southwest winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming
northwest 20 to 25 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 feet,
except building to 3 to 5 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming very rough.
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms in the morning, then
isolated showers in the afternoon.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds near 25 knots, becoming
north to northeast 20 to 25 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, except 5 to
8 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters extremely
rough, becoming very rough.
.FRIDAY...Northeast winds near 20 knots, decreasing to 15 to 20
knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet. West of Cosgrove Shoal Light, seas 5 to 6
feet, subsiding to 4 to 5 feet. Nearshore waters rough, becoming
choppy.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to
4 feet. Nearshore waters choppy.
.SATURDAY...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet. Nearshore
waters a moderate chop.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop.
.SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15
knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate
chop.

$$

GMZ052>055-072>075-272045-
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-
1033 AM EDT Wed Mar 27 2024

.THIS AFTERNOON...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4
feet.
.TONIGHT...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming south after
midnight. Seas 2 to 4 feet.  Isolated showers after midnight.
.THURSDAY...South to southwest winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming
northwest 20 to 25 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 feet,
building to 4 to 7 feet in the afternoon. Scattered showers and
isolated thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds near 25 knots, becoming
north to northeast 20 to 25 knots. Seas 6 to 9 feet.
.FRIDAY...Northeast winds near 20 knots, decreasing to 15 to 20
knots. Seas 5 to 8 feet. Isolated showers.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 5 to
7 feet.
.SATURDAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to near 15
knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, subsiding to 3 to 5 feet.
.SUNDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet.

$$

GMZ033-034-272045-
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-
1033 AM EDT Wed Mar 27 2024

.THIS AFTERNOON...Southeast winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10
to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
.TONIGHT...Southeast to south winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Isolated showers in the evening, then scattered showers
and isolated thunderstorms after midnight.
.THURSDAY...South to southwest winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming
northwest to north near 25 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, building to 5
to 8 feet in the afternoon. Numerous showers and isolated
thunderstorms in the morning, then isolated showers in the
afternoon.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds near 25 knots, becoming
north to northeast 20 to 25 knots. Seas 6 to 9 feet, subsiding to
6 to 7 feet after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Northeast winds near 20 knots, decreasing briefly to 10
to 15 knots in the afternoon. Seas 5 to 7 feet, subsiding to 3 to
5 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds increasing to near 15
knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet.
.SATURDAY...East winds near 15 knots. Seas subsiding to 2 to 3
feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10
to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.

$$


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