Hazardous marine condition(s):
Gale Watch
GMZ005-310930-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
429 PM EST Fri Jan 30 2026
.SYNOPSIS...Gentle to moderate, breezes will continue this evening
and through the overnight, while backing towards the west to
northwest. A strong cold front will blast through the Florida Keys
marine zones on Saturday. Breezes will dramatically freshen in
the wake of the front. A period of gale-force winds is expected
Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning across the Keys coastal
waters, as high pressure building across the Gulf Coast interacts
with the front. While breezes will slowly slacken and seas subside
Sunday through Monday, marine hazards will continue. North to
northeast breezes will slacken further on Tuesday, becoming gentle
to moderate.
The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of January
28...
30 NM South of Dry Tortugas Light...on Loggerhead Key.
14 NM South of Cosgrove Shoal Light...off the Marquesas Keys.
12 NM South of Sand Key Light...off Key West.
15 NM South of Looe Key...off Big Pine Key.
16 NM Southeast of Sombrero Key Light...off Marathon.
11 NM Southeast of Alligator Reef Light...off Islamorada.
7 NM Southeast of Molasses Reef Light...off Key Largo.
5 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.
$$
GMZ042>044-310930- 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- 429 PM EST Fri Jan 30 2026 GALE WATCH IN EFFECT SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SATURDAY LATE MORNING TONIGHT North to northeast winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming northwest to north. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. Isolated showers. SATURDAY West winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming northwest 30 to 35 knots in the afternoon. Seas 1 to 2 feet, building to 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. West of Cosgrove Shoal Light, seas 2 to 3 feet, building to 5 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming extremely rough. Numerous showers. SATURDAY NIGHT Northwest winds near 35 knots, decreasing to 30 to 35 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet, except 9 to 12 feet, occasionally to 15 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters extremely rough. Isolated showers. SUNDAY Northwest to north winds near 30 knots, decreasing to near 25 knots in the afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. West of Cosgrove Shoal Light, seas 9 to 12 feet, occasionally to 15 feet, subsiding to 7 to 10 feet, occasionally to 13 feet. Nearshore waters extremely rough. SUNDAY NIGHT Northwest to north winds 20 to 25 knots, decreasing to near 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. West of Cosgrove Shoal Light, seas 6 to 8 feet, occasionally to 10 feet, subsiding to 5 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet. Nearshore waters very rough, becoming rough. MONDAY North winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 4 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters choppy. MONDAY NIGHT North to northeast winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters choppy, becoming a moderate chop. TUESDAY North to northeast winds decreasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters becoming a light to moderate chop. TUESDAY NIGHT Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. Isolated showers. WEDNESDAY Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. Isolated showers. WEDNESDAY NIGHT North to northeast winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming northwest near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a moderate chop. Isolated showers. $$
GMZ042>044-310930- 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- 429 PM EST Fri Jan 30 2026 GALE WATCH IN EFFECT SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SATURDAY LATE MORNING TONIGHT North to northeast winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming northwest to north. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. Isolated showers. SATURDAY West winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming northwest 30 to 35 knots in the afternoon. Seas 1 to 2 feet, building to 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. West of Cosgrove Shoal Light, seas 2 to 3 feet, building to 5 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming extremely rough. Numerous showers. SATURDAY NIGHT Northwest winds near 35 knots, decreasing to 30 to 35 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet, except 9 to 12 feet, occasionally to 15 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters extremely rough. Isolated showers. SUNDAY Northwest to north winds near 30 knots, decreasing to near 25 knots in the afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. West of Cosgrove Shoal Light, seas 9 to 12 feet, occasionally to 15 feet, subsiding to 7 to 10 feet, occasionally to 13 feet. Nearshore waters extremely rough. SUNDAY NIGHT Northwest to north winds 20 to 25 knots, decreasing to near 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. West of Cosgrove Shoal Light, seas 6 to 8 feet, occasionally to 10 feet, subsiding to 5 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet. Nearshore waters very rough, becoming rough. MONDAY North winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 4 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters choppy. MONDAY NIGHT North to northeast winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters choppy, becoming a moderate chop. TUESDAY North to northeast winds decreasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters becoming a light to moderate chop. TUESDAY NIGHT Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. Isolated showers. WEDNESDAY Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. Isolated showers. WEDNESDAY NIGHT North to northeast winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming northwest near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a moderate chop. Isolated showers. $$