GMZ005-240230-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
1028 AM EDT Fri Oct 23 2026
.SYNOPSIS...
High pressure centered just north of the Great Lakes region will
continue to slide eastward and strengthen over the next several
days. The high will interact with a developing disturbance in the
eastern Caribbean, supporting freshening northeasterly breezes
over the next several days. Breezes will peak Sunday night through
Tuesday, when strong to near gale breezes will be possible. The
freshening breezes and a surge of moisture may also support
elevated rain and isolated strong thunderstorm chances Friday
night through Monday.
The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of October
19, 2026...
46 NM south of Dry Tortugas Light, on Loggerhead Key
18 NM north of Cosgrove Shoal Light, off the Marquesas Keys
12 NM north of Sand Key Light, off Key West
7 NM north-northwest of Looe Key, off Big Pine Key
5 NM southeast of Sombrero Key Light, off Marathon
2 NM south-southeast of Alligator Reef Light, off Islamorada
2 NM northwest of Molasses Reef Light, off Key Largo
3 NM northwest of Carysfort Reef Light, off Ocean Reef
Gulf Stream Information Courtesy of the Naval Oceanographic
Office.
$$
GMZ042>044-240230- 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- 1028 AM EDT Fri Oct 23 2026 SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION UNTIL WINDS DECREASE THIS AFTERNOON Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters choppy, becoming a moderate chop. A chance of showers. TONIGHT Northeast winds increasing to near 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, except 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters becoming rough. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms. SATURDAY Northeast winds near 20 knots, decreasing to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, except 4 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters rough, becoming choppy. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms. SATURDAY NIGHT North to northeast winds near 20 knots, decreasing to 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 rough, becoming choppy. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms. SUNDAY North to northeast 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. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms. SUNDAY NIGHT North to northeast winds increasing to 20 to 25 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, except building to 5 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters becoming very rough. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms. MONDAY North to northeast winds 20 to 25 knots, increasing to near 25 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, except 5 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters very rough, becoming extremely rough. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms. MONDAY NIGHT North to northeast winds 25 to 30 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet, except 5 to 8 feet, occasionally to 10 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters extremely rough. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. TUESDAY North to northeast winds 25 to 30 knots, decreasing to near 25 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, except 5 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters extremely rough. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. TUESDAY NIGHT North to northeast winds near 25 knots, decreasing to 20 to 25 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, except subsiding to 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters extremely rough, becoming very rough. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. $$
GMZ042>044-240230- 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- 1028 AM EDT Fri Oct 23 2026 SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION UNTIL WINDS DECREASE THIS AFTERNOON Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters choppy, becoming a moderate chop. A chance of showers. TONIGHT Northeast winds increasing to near 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, except 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters becoming rough. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms. SATURDAY Northeast winds near 20 knots, decreasing to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, except 4 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters rough, becoming choppy. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms. SATURDAY NIGHT North to northeast winds near 20 knots, decreasing to 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 rough, becoming choppy. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms. SUNDAY North to northeast 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. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms. SUNDAY NIGHT North to northeast winds increasing to 20 to 25 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, except building to 5 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters becoming very rough. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms. MONDAY North to northeast winds 20 to 25 knots, increasing to near 25 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, except 5 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters very rough, becoming extremely rough. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms. MONDAY NIGHT North to northeast winds 25 to 30 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet, except 5 to 8 feet, occasionally to 10 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters extremely rough. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. TUESDAY North to northeast winds 25 to 30 knots, decreasing to near 25 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, except 5 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters extremely rough. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. TUESDAY NIGHT North to northeast winds near 25 knots, decreasing to 20 to 25 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, except subsiding to 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters extremely rough, becoming very rough. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. $$