342
FZUS52 KKEY 292023
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
423 PM EDT Wed Jul 29 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.

GMZ005-300830-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
423 PM EDT Wed Jul 29 2026

.SYNOPSIS...Troughing combined with the western periphery of an
Atlantic surface ridge will support moderate to fresh southwest
to west breezes across the Keys marine zones, especially over the
adjacent nearshore and offshore waters off the Upper Keys. Breezes
will gradually slacken overnight through Thursday night, as weak
nebulous flow takes over. A col region will set up for late week
into the first part of the weekend, resulting in a potential
period of light and variable breezes. As high pressure strengthens
in the North Atlantic, southeast breezes will freshen by the
second half of the weekend and into early next week.

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of
July 26, 2026...

40 NM South of Dry Tortugas Light...on Loggerhead Key.
49 NM South of Cosgrove Shoal Light...off the Marquesas Keys.
44 NM South of Sand Key Light...off Key West.
28 NM South of Looe Key...off Big Pine Key.
 4 NM South of Sombrero Key Light...off Marathon.
 3 NM Southeast of Alligator Reef Light...off Islamorada.
 1 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.

$$

GMZ031-300830-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
423 PM EDT Wed Jul 29 2026

.TONIGHT...Southwest to west winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming
southwest and decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters a light to
moderate chop, becoming smooth to a light chop.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth to a
light chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming
south to southwest and decreasing to near 5 knots. Bay waters
smooth to a light chop, becoming smooth.
.FRIDAY...South to southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters
smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds near 5 knots, becoming variable. Bay
waters smooth. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming south to
southwest. Bay waters smooth. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters
smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of showers.
.SUNDAY...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters
smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a light
chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters
smooth to a light chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters
smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ032-035-300830-
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-
423 PM EDT Wed Jul 29 2026

.TONIGHT...Southwest to west winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming
southwest and decreasing to near 5 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet,
subsiding to around 1 foot. Nearshore waters a light to moderate
chop, becoming smooth.
.THURSDAY...South to southwest winds near 5 knots, becoming
southwest to west and increasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1
foot. Nearshore waters smooth, becoming smooth to a light chop. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Nearshore waters smooth.
.FRIDAY...South winds near 5 knots, becoming southwest. Seas 1
foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas 1
foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop.
.SUNDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of
showers.
.SUNDAY 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.
.MONDAY...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1
foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ042-300830-
Hawk Channel from Ocean Reef to Craig Key out to the reef-
423 PM EDT Wed Jul 29 2026

...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION UNTIL WINDS DECREASE...

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10
knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, subsiding to 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore
waters choppy, becoming smooth to a light chop.
.THURSDAY...South to southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around
1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A slight chance
of showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots, decreasing to
near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot, subsiding to 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop, becoming smooth.
.FRIDAY...South to southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming
variable and decreasing to near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop, becoming smooth. A slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming south and
increasing to 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.
.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A slight
chance of showers.
.SUNDAY 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.
.MONDAY...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY 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 and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ043-044-300830-
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-
423 PM EDT Wed Jul 29 2026

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10
knots. Seas around 2 feet, subsiding to 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore
waters a light to moderate chop, becoming smooth to a light chop.
.THURSDAY...South to southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around
1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A slight chance
of showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots, decreasing to
near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot, subsiding to 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop, becoming smooth.
.FRIDAY...South to southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming
variable and decreasing to near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop, becoming smooth. A slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming south and
increasing to 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.
.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A slight
chance of showers.
.SUNDAY 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.
.MONDAY...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY 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 and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ052-072-300830-
Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef to Craig Key out 20 NM-
Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef to Craig Key 20 to 60 NM out-
423 PM EDT Wed Jul 29 2026

...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION UNTIL WINDS DECREASE...

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots, becoming south to
southwest and decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet, subsiding to around 2 feet. Wave Detail:
Southwest to west 1 foot at 3 seconds.
.THURSDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave
Detail: East to southeast 1 foot at 3 seconds. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...South winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Wave Detail: East to southeast 1 foot at 3 seconds.
.FRIDAY...Southeast to south winds near 5 knots. Seas around
1 foot. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds near 5 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southeast to south winds near 5 knots. Seas around
1 foot. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
1 to 2 feet. A slight chance of showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, becoming
southeast and increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet,
building to 2 to 3 feet. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.MONDAY...Southeast to south winds near 10 knots. Seas around 2
feet. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ053>055-073>075-300830-
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 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-
423 PM EDT Wed Jul 29 2026

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds near 15 knots, becoming south to
southwest and decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet,
subsiding to around 1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail: Southwest to west 1
foot at 3 seconds.
.THURSDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave
Detail: East to southeast 1 foot at 3 seconds. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...South winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Wave
Detail: East 1 foot at 2 seconds and west to northwest 1 foot at
4 seconds.
.FRIDAY...Southeast to south winds near 5 knots. Seas around
1 foot. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds near 5 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southeast to south winds near 5 knots. Seas around
1 foot. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
1 to 2 feet. A slight chance of showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, becoming
southeast and increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet,
building to 2 to 3 feet. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.MONDAY...Southeast to south winds near 10 knots. Seas around 2
feet. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ033-034-300830-
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-
423 PM EDT Wed Jul 29 2026

.TONIGHT...Southwest to west winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing to
5 to 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet, subsiding to 1 to 2 feet. Wave
Detail: West 2 feet at 4 seconds.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave
Detail: West to northwest 1 foot at 5 seconds.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest to west winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Wave Detail: West to northwest 1 foot at 4 seconds.
.FRIDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming west. Seas 1 to 2
feet. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds near 5 knots, becoming
variable. Seas around 1 foot. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds near 5 knots, becoming
southeast. Seas around 1 foot. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing
to near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, building to around 2 feet. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.MONDAY NIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$