202
FZUS52 KKEY 211429
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
1029 AM EDT Tue Jul 21 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.

GMZ005-220230-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
1029 AM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

.SYNOPSIS...As of 5 AM EDT, Tropical Storm Bertha was centered
over the northeastern Gulf waters. Bertha is expected to continue
moving slowly to the northwest or west-northwest today, followed
by a turn to the west by the middle part of the week. On the
forecast track, TS Bertha will move near or along the northern
Gulf coast during the next several days. Closer to home, an
Atlantic ridge of high pressure will extend to the Florida
Peninsula for the next several days. Moderate breezes will slacken
to mainly gentle this afternoon. Thereafter, breezes will
continue to peak overnight and lull during the day through Friday.

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.

$$

GMZ031-220230-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
1029 AM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Southeast winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a
light chop.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, becoming
southeast and increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a light
chop, becoming a light to moderate chop. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming east to
southeast and decreasing to near 10 knots. Bay waters a light to
moderate chop, becoming a light chop. A slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds near 10 knots, increasing to 10 to
15 knots. Bay waters a light chop, becoming a light to moderate
chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a light chop. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a light
to moderate chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters
smooth to a light chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters
smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of showers.
.SATURDAY...Southeast to south winds near 5 knots. Bay waters
smooth. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds near 5 knots. Bay
waters smooth.

$$

GMZ032-035-220230-
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-
1029 AM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Southeast to south winds near 15 knots,
becoming southeast and decreasing to near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2
feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore
waters a moderate chop, becoming a light chop.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, becoming
southeast and increasing to near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet,
except 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a
light chop, becoming a moderate chop. A slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...Southeast winds near 15 knots, becoming east to
southeast and decreasing to near 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas
1 to 2 feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys.
Nearshore waters a moderate chop, becoming a light chop. A slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...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 slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore
waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...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.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5
to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop,
becoming smooth to a light chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot
or less. Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southeast to south winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Nearshore waters smooth.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Nearshore waters smooth.

$$

GMZ042>044-220230-
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-
1029 AM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Southeast to south winds near 15 knots,
becoming southeast and decreasing to near 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3
feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop, becoming a light chop.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, becoming
southeast and increasing to near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming a moderate chop. A slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...Southeast winds near 15 knots, becoming east to
southeast and decreasing to near 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Nearshore waters a moderate chop, becoming a light chop. A slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore
waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers
and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5
to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop,
becoming smooth to a light chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A slight
chance of showers.
.SATURDAY...Southeast to south winds near 5 knots. Seas around
1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas around
1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth.

$$

GMZ052>055-072>075-220230-
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-
1029 AM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Southeast winds near 15 knots, becoming east to
southeast and decreasing to near 10 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet, subsiding to 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail:
East to southeast 3 feet at 5 seconds and west 2 feet at 6
seconds.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to
near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Wave
Detail: East to southeast 3 feet at 5 seconds and west 2 feet at 6
seconds. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...East to southeast winds near 15 knots, decreasing to
10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Wave
Detail: East to southeast 3 feet at 5 seconds and west 2 feet at 7
seconds. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. A slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10 knots.
Seas 2 to 3 feet, subsiding to 1 to 2 feet. A chance of showers
and 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 winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 5 knots. Seas
around 1 foot.

$$

GMZ033-034-220230-
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-
1029 AM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Southeast to south winds near 15 knots,
becoming southeast and decreasing to near 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3
feet. Wave Detail: Southeast to south 3 feet at 4 seconds and west
2 feet at 6 seconds.
.TONIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to near
15 knots after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: West to
northwest 3 feet at 7 seconds and southeast 2 feet at 4 seconds.
.WEDNESDAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing to near 10
knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: Southeast 2 feet at 4
seconds and west 2 feet at 6 seconds. A slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots,
increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. A slight chance
of showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10
knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 2 feet. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. A chance of
showers and 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 near 5 knots. Seas around
1 foot.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds near 5 knots, becoming
south after midnight. Seas around 1 foot.

$$