408
FZUS52 KKEY 130821
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
421 AM EDT Wed May 13 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.

GMZ005-132030-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
421 AM EDT Wed May 13 2026

.SYNOPSIS...A stalled frontal boundary over central Florida, a
well defined high pressure system over the north Atlantic, and a
mean layer ridge located north of the Antilles will act together
to cause a surge in winds along the southern Florida coastline.
Westerly breezes are on track to freshen from light to gentle to
moderate to fresh tonight along the northeastern coastal zones.
Showers will continue to pulse on and off across all the Florida
Keys coastal waters. The pressure gradient is expected to collapse
late in the week, thus there is high confidence that there will
be periods of variable winds.

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of May 12...

35 NM South of Dry Tortugas Light...on Loggerhead Key.
 9 NM South of Cosgrove Shoal Light...off the Marquesas Keys.
 6 NM South of Sand Key Light...off Key West.
 7 NM South of Looe Key...off Big Pine Key.
 6 NM Southeast of Sombrero Key Light...off Marathon.
 6 NM Southeast of Alligator Reef Light...off Islamorada.
 4 NM Southeast of Molasses Reef Light...off Key Largo.
 3 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.

$$

GMZ031-132030-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
421 AM EDT Wed May 13 2026

.TODAY...Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to near
15 knots this afternoon. Bay waters smooth to a light chop,
becoming a moderate chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...West winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10 to 15 knots.
Bay waters a moderate chop, becoming a light to moderate chop. A
chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a light to
moderate chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds 10 to 15 knots,
decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters a light to moderate chop,
becoming smooth to a light chop.
.FRIDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots. Bay waters smooth.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming east to
southeast. Bay waters smooth. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters
smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a light
to moderate chop. A chance of showers with a slight chance of
thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a light to
moderate chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots, increasing to 15 to 20
knots. Bay waters a moderate chop, becoming choppy. A slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ032-035-132030-
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 Wed May 13 2026

.TODAY...Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to 10
to 15 knots this afternoon. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters
smooth to a light chop, becoming a light to moderate chop. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...West winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore
waters a light to moderate chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...West to northwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds 10 to 15 knots,
decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a
light to moderate chop, becoming smooth to a light chop.
.FRIDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming east to
southeast. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth. A slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...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.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas
1 foot or less. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ043-044-132030-
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 Wed May 13 2026

.TODAY...Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming west 10
to 15 knots this afternoon. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters
smooth, becoming a light to moderate chop. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...West winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore
waters a light to moderate chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...West to northwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...North to northwest 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.
.FRIDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters smooth.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming east. Seas
1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East winds near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas
1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A slight chance of
showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Nearshore waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ042-132030-
Hawk Channel from Ocean Reef to Craig Key out to the reef-
421 AM EDT Wed May 13 2026

...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION FOR INCREASING WINDS...

.TODAY...Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to 15
to 20 knots this afternoon. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters
smooth to a light chop, becoming choppy. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to near 15 knots.
Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A
chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds 10 to 15 knots,
decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Nearshore waters
a light to moderate chop, becoming smooth to a light chop.
.FRIDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas subsiding to 1 foot
or less. Nearshore waters smooth.
.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...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.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots,
increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters
a light chop, becoming a light to moderate chop. A chance of
showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Nearshore waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ052-072-132030-
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-
421 AM EDT Wed May 13 2026

...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION FOR INCREASING WINDS...

.TODAY...Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to 15
to 20 knots this afternoon. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail:
South to southwest 1 foot at 3 seconds. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to near 15 knots.
Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave Detail: West 2 feet at 3 seconds and north
to northeast 1 foot at 9 seconds. A chance of showers with a
slight chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Wave
Detail: West 2 feet at 4 seconds and north to northeast 1 foot at
8 seconds. A chance of showers with a slight chance of
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...West to northwest winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing
to 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. A slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 1 foot. A chance of showers with a slight chance of
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around
1 foot. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds near 10 knots, increasing to 10 to
15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. A chance of showers with a slight
chance of thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. A slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.

$$

GMZ053>055-073>075-132030-
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-
421 AM EDT Wed May 13 2026

.TODAY...Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to near
10 knots this afternoon. Seas around 1 foot. Wave Detail:
West 1 foot at 2 seconds and east to southeast 1 foot at 4
seconds. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...West winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave
Detail: West 2 feet at 4 seconds. A chance of showers with a
slight chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...West to northwest winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Wave Detail: West to northwest 2 feet at 5 seconds. A
chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
1 to 2 feet. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. A slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Variable winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming east to
southeast. Seas around 1 foot. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. A slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. A slight
chance of showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots, increasing to 15 to 20
knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. A slight chance
of showers.

$$

GMZ033-034-132030-
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 Wed May 13 2026

.TODAY...Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to
west 10 to 15 knots this afternoon. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave
Detail:
Southwest to west 2 feet at 3 seconds. A slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...West winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Wave
Detail: West 2 feet at 4 seconds. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...West to northwest winds near 10 knots. Seas around 2
feet. Wave Detail: West to northwest 2 feet at 5 seconds. A slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas
around 2 feet.
.FRIDAY...Variable winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming northeast to
east. Seas around 1 foot.
.SATURDAY...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around
1 foot. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots,
increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. A slight chance
of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.

$$

AJP