Coastal Waters Forecast
Issued by NWS Key West, FL

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FZUS52 KKEY 200821
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
421 AM EDT Sun Apr 20 2025

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.

GMZ005-201430-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
421 AM EDT Sun Apr 20 2025

.SYNOPSIS...Strong easterlies will remain in place through tonight,
as expansive high pressure continues to dominate the synoptic
pattern for the Florida Keys. As the high weakens, breezes will
slacken beginning Monday, but marine hazard headlines will likely
continue due to occasional fresh breezes.

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of April 16...

30 NM South of Dry Tortugas Light...on Loggerhead Key.
 8 NM South of Cosgrove Shoal Light...off the Marquesas Keys.
 5 NM South of Sand Key Light...off Key West.
 9 NM South of Looe Key...off Big Pine Key.
13 NM South of Sombrero Key Light...off Marathon.
15 NM Southeast of Alligator Reef Light...off Islamorada.
14 NM Southeast of Molasses Reef Light...off Key Largo.
12 NM East 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.

$$

GMZ031-201430-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
421 AM EDT Sun Apr 20 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT...

.TODAY...East winds near 20 knots. Bay waters rough.
.TONIGHT...East winds near 20 knots. Bay waters rough.
.MONDAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to near 15 knots.
Bay waters choppy, becoming a moderate chop.
.MONDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Bay waters choppy.
.TUESDAY...East winds near 15 knots. Bay waters a moderate chop.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Bay waters choppy.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds near 15 knots. Bay waters a moderate
chop.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Bay waters choppy.
.THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Bay
waters choppy. Isolated showers.

$$

GMZ032-035-201430-
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-
421 AM EDT Sun Apr 20 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT...

.TODAY...East winds near 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 4 to
5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet west of the Marquesas Keys.
Nearshore waters rough.
.TONIGHT...East winds near 20 knots, becoming east to southeast.
Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 4 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet west
of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters rough.
.MONDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots, becoming east.
Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet west
of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters choppy.
.MONDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet,
except 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet west of the Marquesas
Keys. Nearshore waters choppy.
.TUESDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots, becoming east
and decreasing to near 15 knots in the afternoon. Seas 1 to 2
feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore
waters choppy, becoming a moderate chop.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet,
except 2 to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters
choppy.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except 2
to 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a moderate
chop.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2
to 3 feet, except 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet west of the
Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters choppy.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet,
except 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet west of the Marquesas
Keys. Nearshore waters choppy. Isolated showers.


$$

GMZ042>044-201430-
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-
421 AM EDT Sun Apr 20 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT...

.TODAY...East winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet,
occasionally to 8 feet. Nearshore waters very rough.
.TONIGHT...East winds near 20 knots, becoming east to southeast.
Seas 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet. Nearshore waters rough.
.MONDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots, becoming east.
Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Nearshore waters
choppy.
.MONDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters choppy.
.TUESDAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to near 15 knots
in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet.
Nearshore waters choppy, becoming a moderate chop.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters choppy.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters choppy.
.THURSDAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters choppy. Isolated
showers.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds near 20 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters rough. Isolated showers.

$$

GMZ052>055-072>075-201430-
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-
421 AM EDT Sun Apr 20 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT...

.TODAY...East winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 6 to 9 feet,
occasionally to 11 feet. Wave Detail: East 7 feet at 7 seconds.
.TONIGHT...East winds 20 to 25 knots, becoming east to southeast
and decreasing to near 20 knots. Seas 5 to 8 feet, occasionally
to 10 feet. Wave Detail: East 7 feet at 7 seconds.
.MONDAY...East to southeast winds near 20 knots, becoming east and
decreasing to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 5 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9
feet. Wave Detail: East 7 feet at 7 seconds.
.MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to
6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20
knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet.
.THURSDAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet,
occasionally to 8 feet. Isolated showers.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds near 20 knots. Seas 4 to 7 feet,
occasionally to 8 feet. Isolated showers.

$$

GMZ033-034-201430-
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-
421 AM EDT Sun Apr 20 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT...

.TODAY...East to southeast winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 4 to
7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet. Wave Detail: East 5 feet at 5
seconds.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds near 20 knots, decreasing to 15
to 20 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet. Wave
Detail: East 4 feet at 5 seconds.
.MONDAY...East to southeast winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to
near 15 knots in the afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to
6 feet. Wave Detail: East to southeast 4 feet at 5 seconds.
.MONDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet.
.TUESDAY...East to southeast winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10
to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to near 15
knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...East to southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3
feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 15 knots, increasing to 15 to 20
knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet. Isolated showers.

$$

MJV