FZUS52 KKEY 221421
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
1021 AM EDT Sat Mar 22 2025

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

Wave Detail will include details about the period and direction of origin for the highest energy waves. Long-period swells coming from a different direction than the wind would be included in the Wave Detail.

GMZ005-222100
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas 1021 AM EDT Sat Mar 22 2025

SYNOPSIS
Through this weekend and early next week, high pressure straddling the Florida Peninsula will build eastward into the Atlantic. This will maintain mostly gentle breezes gradually clocking to the east to southeast, likely strengthening slightly early next week. Weak and messy ridging will dominate through the first half of the week, keeping winds light and largely easterly. Strong high pressure building in the wake of this system will support freshening easterly breezes through the back half of the week.

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of March 21...

17 NM South of Dry Tortugas Light...on Loggerhead Key. 7 NM South of Cosgrove Shoal Light...off the Marquesas Keys. 5 NM South of Sand Key Light...off Key West. 6 NM South of Looe Key...off Big Pine Key. 9 NM South of Sombrero Key Light...off Marathon. 14 NM Southeast of Alligator Reef Light...off Islamorada. 10 NM Southeast of Molasses Reef Light...off Key Largo. 4 NM East of Carysfort Reef Light...off Ocean Reef.

Gulf Stream Information Courtesy of the National Weather Service in Key West based on products from the Real Time Ocean Forecast System and NASA SPoRT.

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GMZ031-222100
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and Buttonwood Sound
1021 AM EDT Sat Mar 22 2025

THIS AFTERNOON
Northeast winds near 10 knots, becoming northeast to east 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters a light chop, becoming smooth to a light chop.

TONIGHT
Northeast to east winds increasing to near 10 knots. Bay waters becoming a light chop.

SUNDAY
East winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a light to moderate chop.

SUNDAY NIGHT
East to southeast winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a moderate chop, becoming a light to moderate chop.

MONDAY
Southeast winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a light chop.

MONDAY NIGHT
East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a light chop.

TUESDAY
East near 10 knots. Bay waters a light chop. Isolated showers.

TUESDAY NIGHT
Northeast to east winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers.

WEDNESDAY
Northeast winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a light chop. Isolated showers.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT
North to northeast winds near 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth to a light chop.

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GMZ032-035-222100
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
1021 AM EDT Sat Mar 22 2025

THIS AFTERNOON
Northeast winds near 10 knots, becoming east 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming smooth to a light chop.

TONIGHT
Northeast to east winds increasing to near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters becoming a light chop.

SUNDAY
East winds increasing to near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters becoming a moderate chop.

SUNDAY NIGHT
East to southeast winds decreasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except 2 to 3 feet wets of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters becoming a light to moderate chop.

MONDAY
East to southeast winds decreasing to near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters becoming a light chop.

MONDAY NIGHT
East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas subsiding to 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers.

TUESDAY
East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers.

TUESDAY NIGHT
Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop, becoming a light chop. Isolated showers.

WEDNESDAY
North to northeast winds near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters a light chop. Isolated showers.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT
North to northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop.

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GMZ042>044-222100
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
1021 AM EDT Sat Mar 22 2025

THIS AFTERNOON
Northeast to east winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming smooth to a light chop.

TONIGHT
Northeast to east winds increasing to near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters becoming a light chop.

SUNDAY
East winds increasing to near 15 knots. Seas building to 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters becoming a moderate chop.

SUNDAY NIGHT
East to southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop.

MONDAY
Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing to near 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a light chop.

MONDAY NIGHT
East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop. Isolated showers.

TUESDAY
East winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop. Isolated showers.

TUESDAY NIGHT
Northeast near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop. Isolated showers.

WEDNESDAY
Northeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop. Isolated showers.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT
North to northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop.

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GMZ052>055-072>075-222100
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
1021 AM EDT Sat Mar 22 2025

THIS AFTERNOON
Northeast to east winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet due to northeast swell. Wave Detail: Northeast to east 3 feet at 7 seconds and west to northwest 3 feet at 8 seconds.

TONIGHT
Northeast to east winds increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east 3 feet at 5 seconds and northwest 2 feet at 7 seconds.

SUNDAY
East winds increasing to near 15 knots. Seas building to 2 to 4 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east 3 feet at 6 seconds and northwest 1 foot at 6 seconds.

SUNDAY NIGHT
East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to near 15 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet.

MONDAY
East to southeast winds decreasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet.

MONDAY NIGHT
East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Isolated showers.

TUESDAY
East winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Isolated showers.

TUESDAY NIGHT
Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Isolated showers.

WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Isolated showers.

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GMZ033-034-222100
Gulf of America from East Cape Sable to Chokoloskee 20 to 60 NM out and beyond 5 fathoms
Gulf of America including Dry Tortugas and Rebecca Shoal Channel
1021 AM EDT Sat Mar 22 2025

THIS AFTERNOON
Northeast to east winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: Northwest 3 feet at 7 seconds and northeast to east 1 foot at 3 seconds.

TONIGHT
Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail: Northwest 2 feet at 6 seconds and northeast to east 1 foot at 3 seconds.

SUNDAY
East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Wave Detail: East 2 feet at 3 seconds and northwest 1 foot at 6 seconds.

SUNDAY NIGHT
East to southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.

MONDAY
East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing to near 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.

MONDAY NIGHT
East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Isolated showers.

TUESDAY
Northeast to east winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Isolated showers.

TUESDAY NIGHT
Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Isolated showers.

WEDNESDAY
Northeast winds near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Isolated showers.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT
North to northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.