288
FZUS52 KKEY 241527
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
1027 AM EST Sat Jan 24 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.

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.

GMZ005-250330-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
1027 AM EST Sat Jan 24 2026

.SYNOPSIS...Light to gentle breezes are expected to strengthen
slightly and veer through the weekend as a ridge becomes better
established across Florida. A strong cold front is expected to
race southeastward across the Gulf Sunday night and through Keys
waters Monday and Monday night. Winds will freshen considerably
behind the front. Near gale force winds are possible Monday Night
into Tuesday. Winds relax substantially on Tuesday as high
pressure builds southeastward through the southeast and across
Florida.

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of January
18...

18 NM South of Dry Tortugas Light...on Loggerhead Key.
16 NM South of Cosgrove Shoal Light...off the Marquesas Keys.
15 NM South of Sand Key Light...off Key West.
13 NM South of Looe Key...off Big Pine Key.
13 NM Southeast of Sombrero Key Light...off Marathon.
12 NM Southeast of Alligator Reef Light...off Islamorada.
 7 NM Southeast of Molasses Reef Light...off Key Largo.
 4 NM Southeast 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 and RTOFS.

$$

GMZ031-250330-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
1027 AM EST Sat Jan 24 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Northeast to east winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay
waters smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers.
.TONIGHT...East winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a light chop.
.SUNDAY...Southeast winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a light
chop.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay
waters smooth to a light chop.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming west near
15 knots in the afternoon. Bay waters smooth to a light chop,
becoming to a moderate chop. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds increasing to near 25
knots. Bay waters becoming extremely rough. Isolated showers early.
.TUESDAY...North to northeast winds 20 to 25 knots, decreasing to
near 15 knots. Bay waters very rough, becoming a moderate chop.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds near 15 knots. Bay
waters a moderate chop.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast winds near 15 knots, decreasing to near 10
knots. Bay waters a moderate chop, becoming a light chop.
Isolated showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...North winds near 10 knots, becoming northwest
to north near 15 knots. Bay waters a light chop, becoming a
moderate chop. Isolated showers.

$$

GMZ032-035-250330-
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 EST Sat Jan 24 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Northeast to east winds near 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. Nearshore waters a light chop. Isolated showers.
.TONIGHT...East winds near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters a light chop.
.SUNDAY...Southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters a light chop.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming south to
southwest after midnight. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters
smooth to a light chop.
.MONDAY...Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming west to
northwest 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop, becoming to choppy in
the afternoon. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds 20 to 25 knots, becoming
25 to 30 knots after midnight. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to
6 feet. West of the Marquesas Keys, seas 3 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet, building to 6 to 8 feet, occasionally to
10 feet after midnight. Nearshore waters very rough, becoming
extremely rough. Isolated showers early.
.TUESDAY...North winds 20 to 25 knots, becoming north to
northeast 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8
feet, except 6 to 9 feet, occasionally to 11 feet west of the
Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters very rough, becoming choppy.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to
5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet, except 4 to 6 feet, occasionally
to 8 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters choppy.
.WEDNESDAY...North to northeast winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10
to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop,
becoming a light to moderate chop. Isolated showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds 10 to 15 knots,
increasing to near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters a
light to moderate chop, becoming a moderate chop. Isolated
showers.

$$

GMZ042>044-250330-
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 EST Sat Jan 24 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Northeast to east winds near 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. Nearshore waters a light chop. Isolated showers.
.TONIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore
waters a light to moderate chop.
.SUNDAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds near 10 knots, becoming south to
southwest after midnight. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a
light chop.
.MONDAY...Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming west
to northwest 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop, becoming choppy. Isolated
showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds 20 to 25 knots,
increasing to 25 to 30 knots after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
West of Cosgrove Shoal Light, seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6
feet, building to 5 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet after
midnight. Nearshore waters very rough, becoming extremely rough.
Isolated showers early.
.TUESDAY...North winds 20 to 25 knots, becoming north to
northeast 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5
feet, except 5 to 8 feet, occasionally to 10 feet west of Cosgrove
Shoal Light. Nearshore waters very rough, becoming choppy.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas
2 to 3 feet, except 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet west of
Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters choppy.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10 to
15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5
feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters a moderate
chop, becoming a light to moderate chop. Isolated showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...North winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming northwest
to north 15 to 20 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except around 3 feet
west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters a light to moderate
chop, becoming choppy. Isolated showers.

$$

GMZ052>055-072>075-250330-
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 EST Sat Jan 24 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Wave Detail: Northeast to east 2 feet at 4 seconds. Isolated
showers.
.TONIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. Wave Detail: East 3 feet at 4 seconds.
Isolated showers.
.SUNDAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave
Detail: East to southeast 3 feet at 5 seconds.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming south to
southwest near 10 knots after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Isolated showers.
.MONDAY...Southwest to west winds near 10 knots, becoming west to
northwest 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Isolated showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds 20 to 25 knots,
increasing to 25 to 30 knots after midnight. Seas 3 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet, building to 5 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9
feet. Isolated showers early.
.TUESDAY...North winds 20 to 25 knots, becoming north to
northeast 15 to 20 knots. Seas 6 to 9 feet, occasionally to 11
feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 5 to
7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10 to 15
knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet, subsiding to 2 to
4 feet. Isolated showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...North winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming northwest
to north 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5
feet. Isolated showers.

$$

GMZ033-034-250330-
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 EST Sat Jan 24 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...East winds near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Wave Detail: Northeast to east 1 foot at 3 seconds.
.TONIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave
Detail: East 2 feet at 3 seconds.
.SUNDAY...Southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave
Detail: Southeast 2 feet at 3 seconds.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Southeast to south winds near 10 knots, becoming
south to southwest after midnight. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Isolated
showers.
.MONDAY...Southwest to west winds near 10 knots, becoming
northwest to north 20 to 25 knots in the afternoon. Seas 1 foot,
building to 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Scattered
showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds 20 to 25 knots, becoming
north 25 to 30 knots after midnight. Seas 4 to 6 feet,
occasionally to 8 feet, building to 7 to 9 feet, occasionally to
11 feet. Isolated showers early.
.TUESDAY...North to northeast winds 20 to 25 knots, becoming
15 to 20 knots. Seas 6 to 9 feet, occasionally to 11 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas
4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...North to northeast winds near 15 knots, decreasing to
10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Isolated
showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...North winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to near 15
knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Isolated showers.

$$