529
FZUS52 KKEY 231427
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
1027 AM EDT Thu Jul 23 2026

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.

The Wave Detail section highlights the period and direction of
origin for the highest-energy waves, as well as any long-period
swells moving in a different direction than the wind.

GMZ005-240230-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
1027 AM EDT Thu Jul 23 2026

.SYNOPSIS...Mostly gentle to moderate breezes expected today as a
weak easterly wave slowly moves in from the east during the day.
This feature will move east to west across of the Florida Keys
waters, exiting sometime on Friday. Mariners can expect an
increase in coverage of showers and thunderstorms beginning today
and peaking overnight into early Friday. Behind this feature,
breezes will slacken to light to gentle through the first half of
the weekend as a col develops across the region. Thereafter,
breezes will freshen to gentle breezes and back to the west to
northwest as a surface trough develops Sunday. Breezes will return
from the southwest and west as the trough moves east of the
Florida Peninsula early next week.

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of July 17,
2026...

49 NM South of Dry Tortugas Light...on Loggerhead Key.
51 NM South of Cosgrove Shoal Light...off the Marquesas Keys.
38 NM South of Sand Key Light...off Key West.
22 NM South of Looe Key...off Big Pine Key.
13 NM South of Sombrero Key Light...off Marathon.
 6 NM Southeast of Alligator Reef Light...off Islamorada.
 2 NM Southeast of Molasses Reef Light...off Key Largo.
 1 NM Southeast of Carysfort Reef Light...off Ocean Reef.

Gulf Stream Information Courtesy of the National Weather Service in
Key West, using data from RTOFS and NASA SPoRT SST.

$$

GMZ031-240230-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
1027 AM EDT Thu Jul 23 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Northeast to east winds near 10 knots,
increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a light chop, becoming a
light to moderate chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing to
near 10 knots. Bay waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a
light chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Bay waters
rough and winds higher in and around thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Bay waters
a light chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Bay waters
rough and winds higher in and around thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Bay waters
a light chop. A chance of showers with a slight chance of
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming
southwest to west near 5 knots in the afternoon. Bay waters
smooth to a light chop, becoming smooth. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds near 5 knots, becoming
southwest to west 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth, becoming
smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to
near 10 knots. Bay waters smooth to a light chop, becoming a
light chop. A chance of showers with a slight chance of
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Southwest to west winds near 10 knots. Bay waters
a light chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY...Southwest to west winds near 10 knots, increasing to 10
to 15 knots. Bay waters a light chop, becoming a light to
moderate chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a light
chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ032-035-240230-
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-
1027 AM EDT Thu Jul 23 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet,
except 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a
light to moderate chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore
waters a light to moderate chop. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms. Winds and seas higher in and around thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, briefly
decreasing to 5 to 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming smooth to a light chop. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms. Winds and seas higher in and
around thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot, except 1 to 2 feet west of the Marquesas Keys.
Nearshore waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming
southwest to west near 5 knots in the afternoon. Seas around 1
foot, subsiding to 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth to a
light chop, becoming smooth. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds near 5 knots, becoming
west 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth,
becoming smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...West to northwest winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to
near 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less, building to around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop, becoming a light chop. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds near 10 knots. Seas around
1 foot. Nearshore waters a light chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.MONDAY...West winds near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore
waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A 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-
1027 AM EDT Thu Jul 23 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2
feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. Showers likely
with a chance of thunderstorms. Winds and seas higher in and
around thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2
feet. Nearshore waters a light chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Winds and seas higher in and around thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming
southwest to west near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore
waters smooth to a light chop, becoming smooth. A slight chance
of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds near 5 knots, becoming
southwest to west 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore
waters smooth, becoming smooth to a light chop. A slight chance
of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...West to northwest 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. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters a light chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.MONDAY...Southwest to west winds near 10 knots. Seas around 1
foot. Nearshore waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A chance
of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ052>055-072>075-240230-
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-
1027 AM EDT Thu Jul 23 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2
to 3 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east 3 feet at 4 seconds and
west 1 foot at 7 seconds. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3
feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east 3 feet at 5 seconds and west
1 foot at 7 seconds. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Winds
and seas higher in and around thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, briefly
decreasing to 5 to 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas around 2 feet.
Wave Detail: East 2 feet at 5 seconds and west 1 foot at 7
seconds. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Winds and seas
higher in and around thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas
around 2 feet. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming northeast to
east in the afternoon. Seas 1 to 2 feet, subsiding to around 1
foot. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds near 5 knots, becoming
southwest to west. Seas around 1 foot. A slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...West to northwest winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to
near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds near 10 knots, becoming
southwest to west. Seas around 1 foot. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.MONDAY...West winds near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. A slight
chance of showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ033-034-240230-
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-
1027 AM EDT Thu Jul 23 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...East winds near 10 knots, becoming northeast to
east and briefly decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Wave Detail: East 2 feet at 4 seconds and west to northwest 2 feet
at 7 seconds. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 10 knots, increasing to 10
to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east 2
feet at 3 seconds and west 2 feet at 7 seconds. Showers likely
with a chance of thunderstorms. Winds and seas higher in and
around thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East winds near 10 knots, becoming east to southeast in
the afternoon. Seas around 2 feet. Wave Detail: East 2 feet at 4
seconds and west to northwest 2 feet at 7 seconds. Showers likely
with a chance of thunderstorms. Winds and seas higher in and
around thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming
west to northwest near 5 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, subsiding to
around 1 foot. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds near 5 knots, becoming
west. Seas around 1 foot. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...West to northwest winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to
near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds near 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY...West to northwest winds near 10 knots. Seas around 1
foot. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$