FZUS52 KKEY 152030
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
430 PM EDT Tue Apr 15 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.

GMZ005-160230
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas 430 PM EDT Tue Apr 15 2025

SYNOPSIS
High pressure will shift into the western Gulf waters tonight, allowing winds locally to clock around from the northwest. A decaying cold front will clip the area on Wednesday with a reinforcing northerly wind. On Thursday, high pressure will rebuild and expand across the Florida Keys, causing breezes to turn easterly and freshen quickly. Fresh to strong breezes are expected to be in place as early as Thursday night, and these conditions will continue into the start of the weekend.

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of April 10...

22 NM South of Dry Tortugas Light...on Loggerhead Key. 5 NM South of Cosgrove Shoal Light...off the Marquesas Keys. 4 NM South of Sand Key Light...off Key West. 10 NM South of Looe Key...off Big Pine Key. 11 NM South of Sombrero Key Light...off Marathon. 7 NM Southeast of Alligator Reef Light...off Islamorada. 2 NM Southeast of Molasses Reef Light...off Key Largo. 2 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 NASA SPoRT.

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GMZ031-160230
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and Buttonwood Sound
430 PM EDT Tue Apr 15 2025

TONIGHT
Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming northwest to north 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth, becoming smooth to a light chop.

WEDNESDAY
Northwest to north winds near 10 knots, becoming west to northwest 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters a light chop, becoming smooth to a light chop.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT
West to northwest winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming north to northeast. Bay waters smooth to a light chop.

THURSDAY
Northeast to east winds near 10 knots, increasing to near 15 knots. Bay waters a light chop, becoming a moderate chop.

THURSDAY NIGHT
Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Bay waters choppy.

FRIDAY
Northeast to east winds increasing to near 20 knots. Bay waters becoming rough.

FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY
East winds near 20 knots. Bay waters rough.

SATURDAY NIGHT
East winds near 20 knots. Bay waters rough. Isolated showers.

SUNDAY
East to southeast winds near 20 knots, decreasing to 15 to 20 knots. Bay waters rough, becoming choppy. Isolated showers.

SUNDAY NIGHT
East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Bay waters choppy. Isolated showers.

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GMZ032-035-160230
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
430 PM EDT Tue Apr 15 2025

TONIGHT
Variable winds near 5 knots early, becoming northwest 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth, becoming smooth to a light chop.

WEDNESDAY
Northwest to north winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming smooth to a light chop.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming north to northeast after midnight. Seas building to 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop.

THURSDAY
Northeast to east winds near 10 knots, increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except building to 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming a light to moderate chop.

THURSDAY NIGHT
Northeast to east winds near 15 knots, increasing to 15 to 20 knots. Seas building to 2 to 3 feet, except building to 3 to 4 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a moderate chop, becoming choppy.

FRIDAY
East winds increasing to near 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, except 4 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters becoming rough.

FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY
East winds near 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, except 4 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters rough.

SATURDAY NIGHT
East winds near 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, except 4 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters rough. Isolated showers.

SUNDAY
East to southeast winds decreasing to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters becoming choppy. Isolated showers.

SUNDAY NIGHT
East to southeast winds near 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters rough. Isolated showers.

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GMZ042>044-160230
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
430 PM EDT Tue Apr 15 2025

TONIGHT
Variable winds near 5 knots early, becoming northwest 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth, becoming smooth to a light chop.

WEDNESDAY
Northwest to north winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming smooth to a light chop.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Northwest to north winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming north to northeast after midnight. Seas around 1 foot, except building to 1 to 2 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop.

THURSDAY
Northeast to east winds near 10 knots, increasing to near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming a moderate chop.

THURSDAY NIGHT
Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas building to 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters choppy.

FRIDAY
East winds near 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Nearshore waters rough.

FRIDAY NIGHT
East winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Nearshore waters very rough.

SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT
East winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet. Nearshore waters very rough. Isolated showers.

SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT
East to southeast winds near 20 knots. Seas 4 to 5 feet, occasionally to 7 feet. Nearshore waters rough. Isolated showers.

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GMZ052>055-072>075-160230
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
430 PM EDT Tue Apr 15 2025

TONIGHT
North to northeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming northwest to north near 10 knots late. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east 1 foot at 4 seconds.

WEDNESDAY
Northwest to north winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail: North to northeast 2 feet at 3 seconds.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Northwest to north winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming north to northeast near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail: North to northeast 1 foot at 3 seconds.

THURSDAY
Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to near 15 knots. Seas building to 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet.

THURSDAY NIGHT
Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots, increasing to near 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet, building to 5 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet.

FRIDAY
East winds near 20 knots. Seas 5 to 8 feet, occasionally to 10 feet.

FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT
East winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 6 to 9 feet, occasionally to 11 feet. Isolated showers.

SUNDAY
East to southeast winds near 20 knots. Seas 5 to 8 feet, occasionally to 10 feet. Isolated showers.

SUNDAY NIGHT
East to southeast winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 5 to 8 feet, occasionally to 11 feet. Isolated showers.

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GMZ033-034-160230
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
430 PM EDT Tue Apr 15 2025

TONIGHT
Northwest to north winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Wave Detail: Northwest to north 1 foot at 2 seconds.

WEDNESDAY
Northwest to north winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail: Northwest to north 1 foot at 4 seconds.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds near 10 knots, becoming north to northeast. Seas building to 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: Northwest to north 3 feet at 6 seconds.

THURSDAY
East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.

THURSDAY NIGHT
East winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.

FRIDAY
East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet.

FRIDAY NIGHT
East winds increasing to near 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet.

SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT
East winds near 20 knots. Seas 4 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet.

SUNDAY
East to southeast winds decreasing to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet.

SUNDAY NIGHT
East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Isolated showers.