Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Key West, FL
Issued by NWS Key West, FL
015 FXUS62 KKEY 092011 AFDKEY Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Key West FL 311 PM EST Sat Nov 9 2024 ...New DISCUSSION, MARINE, AVIATION... .DISCUSSION... Issued at 310 PM EST Sat Nov 9 2024 A rain free afternoon is underway as northeast to easterly breezes hint at freshening across the Florida Keys this evening. Isolated shallow showers continue to be confined to the outer Straits of Florida as drier air aloft blocks any change at significant vertical development. Moderate northeast to east breezes are gradually freshening along the Reef a strong surface high slides into the New England area. Temperatures have not changed much from this morning as highs reach into the mid 80s with somewhat pleasant dewpoints in the lower 70s. Tonight, the previously mentioned surface high will approach the east Atlantic coast of the northeast US. As it treks out into the western North Atlantic, northeast to east breezes along the Keys will become fresh. While this will encourage some speed convergence to provide a source of lift for convection, the large layer of dry air in the lower to mid levels of the atmosphere (observed in both KKEY and KMFL`s soundings) will continue to limit showers to shallow at best. Since no major change in instability or wind sheer is expected via model soundings, slight chance PoPs are held for tonight. Meanwhile, the edge of moisture associated with a weak tropical wave currently located southeast of the Bahamas will attempt to encroach on our area Sunday. While guidance is split on whether or not the full extent of tropical moisture will extend over the Keys, but have opted to take the middle ground and keep chance PoPs Sunday through Monday for now. Breezes will lull briefly at the start of the work weak as the inverted trough propagates through our area. Despite lingering moisture, rain chances will remain near climo for this time of year as mean flow falls off drastically. This will be short lived, as breezes are set to surge once more out of the northeast with a backdoor cold front descending down the Eastern Seaboard. This solution is still somewhat up in the air but not uncommon for this transitional time of year, so stay tuned for the latest. && .MARINE... Issued at 310 PM EST Sat Nov 9 2024 A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for the Hawk Channel, Straits of Florida, and Deep Gulf waters. Small Craft Should Exercise Caution in all other marine zones as winds increase. From synopsis, strong high pressure moving across the Great Lakes region will pivot towards the Northeast U.S. coast into tonight. This will promote freshening breezes later this evening and overnight. Expect moderate to fresh breezes to develop and hold through Sunday. Thereafter, a weak easterly wave will push across the area late this weekend into early next week, and will slacken breezes. A cold front is progged to approach the Keys later next week with another surge of easterly breezes expected. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 310 PM EST Sat Nov 9 2024 VFR conditions will prevail at both EYW and MTH through the TAF period. Shower activity will continue to be limited through tonight, therefore no mention of showers in the current TAFs. Near surface winds are easterly at 10 to 15 knots currently and this later evening will become more gusty at 15 knots with occasional gusts of near 20 knots. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Key West 77 86 77 85 / 20 20 30 30 Marathon 77 85 77 85 / 20 30 40 30 && .KEY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. GM...Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM EST Sunday for GMZ033-034- 042>044-052>055-072>075. && $$ Public/Marine/Fire...JAM Aviation/Nowcasts....AP Data Acquisition.....AJP Visit us on the web at weather.gov/key Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at: www.facebook.com/nwskeywest www.twitter.com/nwskeywest