GMZ005-211530-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
1022 PM EST Fri Feb 20 2026
.SYNOPSIS...A surface high pressure system centered in the
central North Atlantic will meander in place for the next few
days. The western periphery will stretch west through the Florida
Peninsula and into the Gulf. This will maintain mainly gentle
southeasterly breezes through Saturday morning. A period of light
and variable breezes are possible late Saturday into early Sunday
as the Keys remain in region of nebulous pressure gradient.
Confidence continues to increase for a strong cold front to sweep
through the Keys coastal waters beginning Sunday evening, with
strong, potentially near gale, northwest to north breezes
anticipated in its wake. Winds will slowly slacken and veer to
the northeast, then eventually to the east to southeast Tuesday
through Wednesday.
The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of February
17...
7 NM South of Dry Tortugas Light...on Loggerhead Key.
3 NM South of Cosgrove Shoal Light...off the Marquesas Keys.
2 NM South of Sand Key Light...off Key West.
7 NM South of Looe Key...off Big Pine Key.
11 NM Southeast of Sombrero Key Light...off Marathon.
14 NM Southeast of Alligator Reef Light...off Islamorada.
7 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 and RTOFS.
$$
GMZ032-035-211530- 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- 1022 PM EST Fri Feb 20 2026 OVERNIGHT East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters a light chop. SATURDAY East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. SATURDAY NIGHT Southeast winds near 5 knots, becoming variable. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth. SUNDAY West to northwest winds near 5 knots, increasing to near 15 knots in the afternoon. Seas 1 foot or less, building to 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters smooth , becoming a moderate chop. Isolated showers. SUNDAY NIGHT Northwest to north winds 15 to 20 knots, becoming north and increasing to 25 to 30 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, building to 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet. West of the Marquesas Keys, seas 2 to 3 feet, building to 7 to 9 feet, occasionally to 11 feet. Nearshore waters choppy, becoming extremely rough. Isolated showers in the evening. MONDAY North winds 25 to 30 knots, becoming northwest to north and decreasing to 20 to 25 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet, except 7 to 10 feet, occasionally to 13 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters extremely rough, becoming very rough. MONDAY NIGHT Northwest to north winds near 25 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet, except 7 to 9 feet, occasionally to 11 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters extremely rough. TUESDAY North winds 20 to 25 knots, decreasing to near 15 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet, subsiding to 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. West of the Marquesas Keys, seas 6 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet, subsiding to 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet. Nearshore waters very rough, becoming a moderate chop. TUESDAY NIGHT North winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming northeast. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except subsiding to 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. WEDNESDAY .Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming east to southeast and increasing to near 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a moderate chop. WEDNESDAY NIGHT East to southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a moderate chop. $$
GMZ032-035-211530- 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- 1022 PM EST Fri Feb 20 2026 OVERNIGHT East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters a light chop. SATURDAY East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. SATURDAY NIGHT Southeast winds near 5 knots, becoming variable. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth. SUNDAY West to northwest winds near 5 knots, increasing to near 15 knots in the afternoon. Seas 1 foot or less, building to 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters smooth , becoming a moderate chop. Isolated showers. SUNDAY NIGHT Northwest to north winds 15 to 20 knots, becoming north and increasing to 25 to 30 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, building to 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet. West of the Marquesas Keys, seas 2 to 3 feet, building to 7 to 9 feet, occasionally to 11 feet. Nearshore waters choppy, becoming extremely rough. Isolated showers in the evening. MONDAY North winds 25 to 30 knots, becoming northwest to north and decreasing to 20 to 25 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet, except 7 to 10 feet, occasionally to 13 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters extremely rough, becoming very rough. MONDAY NIGHT Northwest to north winds near 25 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet, except 7 to 9 feet, occasionally to 11 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters extremely rough. TUESDAY North winds 20 to 25 knots, decreasing to near 15 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet, subsiding to 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. West of the Marquesas Keys, seas 6 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet, subsiding to 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet. Nearshore waters very rough, becoming a moderate chop. TUESDAY NIGHT North winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming northeast. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except subsiding to 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. WEDNESDAY .Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming east to southeast and increasing to near 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a moderate chop. WEDNESDAY NIGHT East to southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a moderate chop. $$