379
FZUS52 KKEY 121430
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
1030 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 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.

GMZ005-130230-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
1030 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

.SYNOPSIS...A high pressure system centered in the central North
Atlantic will shift eastward and weaken through Thursday. Gentle
east to southeast breezes will slacken, becoming light and
variable at times in the afternoon hours. As the high
restrengthens and builds westward, breezes will somewhat freshen
for late in the work week through the weekend.

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of
August 7, 2026...

25 NM South of Dry Tortugas Light...on Loggerhead Key.
15 NM South of Cosgrove Shoal Light...off the Marquesas Keys.
19 NM South of Sand Key Light...off Key West.
29 NM South of Looe Key...off Big Pine Key.
16 NM Southeast of Sombrero Key Light...off Marathon.
 4 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.

$$

GMZ031-130230-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
1030 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

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

$$

GMZ032-035-130230-
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-
1030 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...East to southeast winds near 5 knots, becoming
variable. Seas 1 foot or less. Nearshore waters smooth. A slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming east to
southeast 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.
.THURSDAY...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.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots,
increasing to near 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less, building to
around 1 foot. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop, becoming a
light chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, increasing to 10
to 15 knots. Seas around 1 foot, building to 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming a light to moderate chop.
A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet, except around 2 feet west of the Marquesas Keys.
Nearshore waters a moderate chop. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2
feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A slight chance of
showers.
.SUNDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas around 1
foot. Nearshore waters a light chop.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds near 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters a light chop.

$$

GMZ042>044-130230-
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-
1030 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

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

$$

GMZ052>055-072>075-130230-
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-
1030 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around
2 feet. Wave Detail: East 3 feet at 5 seconds.
.TONIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2
feet. Wave Detail: East 2 feet at 4 seconds. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave
Detail: East 2 feet at 4 seconds. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing
to near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, building to 2 to 3 feet. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East winds near 10 knots, increasing to 10 to 15 knots.
Seas 2 to 3 feet, building to 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet.
A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to
4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas 2
to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet.
.SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3
feet.

$$

GMZ033-034-130230-
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-
1030 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...East to southeast winds near 5 knots, becoming
variable. Seas around 1 foot. Wave Detail: East 1 foot at 3
seconds. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming northeast to east.
Seas 1 foot or less. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...Northeast to east winds near 5 knots. Seas 1 foot or
less. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming
east to southeast and increasing to near 10 knots. Seas around 1
foot, building to 1 to 2 feet. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds near 10 knots, becoming east to
southeast and increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet,
building to 2 to 3 feet. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas around 2
feet. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas
around 2 feet. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots.
Seas 1 to 2 feet.

$$

MJV