Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef to Craig Key out 20 NM Marine Forecast
| This Afternoon...Northeast Winds 15 To 20 Knots. Seas 4 To 5 Feet, Occasionally To 6 Feet. Wave Detail: Northeast 5 Feet At 6 Seconds. Showers Likely With A Slight Chance Of Thunderstorms. |
| Tonight...Northeast Winds Near 20 Knots. Seas 4 To 7 Feet, Occasionally To 9 Feet. Wave Detail: Northeast 6 Feet At 6 Seconds. Showers With A Slight Chance Of Thunderstorms. |
| Saturday...Northeast Winds Near 20 Knots. Seas 5 To 7 Feet, Occasionally To 9 Feet. Wave Detail: Northeast 6 Feet At 7 Seconds. A Chance Of Showers With A Slight Chance Of Thunderstorms. |
| Saturday Night...North To Northeast Winds Near 20 Knots, Decreasing To 15 To 20 Knots. Seas 4 To 6 Feet, Occasionally To 8 Feet. A Chance Of Showers With A Slight Chance Of Thunderstorms. |
| Sunday...North To Northeast Winds 15 To 20 Knots, Increasing To Near 20 Knots. Seas 4 To 6 Feet, Occasionally To 8 Feet. A Chance Of Showers With A Slight Chance Of Thunderstorms. |
| Sunday Night...Northeast Winds 20 To 25 Knots. Seas Building To 6 To 9 Feet, Occasionally To 11 Feet. Showers With A Slight Chance Of Thunderstorms. |
| Monday...North To Northeast Winds 20 To 25 Knots, Increasing To Near 25 Knots. Seas 6 To 9 Feet, Occasionally To 11 Feet. Showers Likely With A Slight Chance Of Thunderstorms. |
| Monday Night...North To Northeast Winds 25 To 30 Knots. Seas 7 To 10 Feet, Occasionally To 13 Feet. A Chance Of Showers With A Slight Chance Of Thunderstorms. |
| Tuesday...North To Northeast Winds 25 To 30 Knots, Decreasing To Near 25 Knots. Seas 7 To 10 Feet, Occasionally To 13 Feet, Subsiding To 5 To 8 Feet, Occasionally To 10 Feet. A Chance Of Showers With A Slight Chance Of Thunderstorms. |
| Tuesday Night...Northeast Winds Near 25 Knots, Decreasing To 20 To 25 Knots. Seas 5 To 8 Feet, Occasionally To 10 Feet, Subsiding To 5 To 7 Feet, Occasionally To 9 Feet. A Chance Of Showers With A Slight Chance Of Thunderstorms. |
| Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Key West FL 456am EDT Fri Oct 23 2026 Issued at 445am EDT Fri Oct 23 2026 CIMSS products continues to show an amplified and stagnant pattern across much of the Lower 48. Troughing continues for the West Coast as well as just off the Eastern Seaboard with a massive ridge in between these two which continues to dominate much of the contiguous United States. At the surface, a sprawling area of high pressure remains centered over the eastern Great Lakes with the southern side of this ridge stretching southward towards the Keys. In addition, weak low pressure was starting to develop across the Bahamas. Marine observation platforms surrounding the Island Chain are recording north to northeast breezes of 10 to 15 knots as a result. GOES 19 Total Precipitable Water (TPW) products shows estimated PWATs (Precipitable Waters) have increased from this time just 24 hours ago with values now to be estimated between 1.3 to 1.5 inches. KBYX radar has been active overnight with most of the shower and thunderstorm activity remaining over the eastern portions of the area across the Upper Keys and surrounding nearshore and offshore waters. MRMS data shows estimated rainfall amounts of a trace to few tenths of an inch along the Upper Keys with the heaviest offshore across the eastern Straits where 1.5 to 1.7 inches was estimated. Temperatures along the Island Chain are in the lower to mid 70s and dew points are in the mid to upper 60s. Short Term - Tonight Through Friday CAST... Weak low pressure will continue to slowly fester over the Bahamas today and tonight. Meanwhile, a sprawling high pressure system will continue to strengthen while drifting southeastward across the Northeast U.S. As these two systems interact with each other, they will cause the pressure gradient to increase throughout the Keys leading to freshening breezes, especially tonight. In addition, moisture will continue to build across the area leading to increasing rain chances. The deepest moisture is expected to remain across the Straits and the easternmost portions of the area, including the Upper Keys where the best chances of showers remains. However, that is not to say showers or thunderstorms are not expected elsewhere. ..Coastal Flooding A Coastal Flood Advisory remains in effect for the Middle and Upper Keys. A Coastal Flood Statement remains in effect for the Lower Keys. As we continue to progress through the weekend and into next week, the tides are expected to continue to rise and will only be amplified by the prolonged northeasterly breezes we expect for the coming days. The peak will be towards the middle of the next week before the tides begin the down trend as we head into November. Marine Issued at 445am EDT Fri Oct 23 2026 Small Craft Should Exercise (SCEC) is headlined throughout all the Florida Keys coastal waters, with the exception of the nearshore waters where until winds decrease is headlined. Small Craft Advisory likely will be required tonight is headlined for all the Florida Keys coastal waters, except for Florida Bay where the only headline is Small Craft Advisory May Be Required tonight. From synopsis, high pressure centered just north of the Great Lakes region will continue to slide eastward and strengthen over the next several days. The high will interact with a developing disturbance in the eastern Caribbean, supporting freshening northeasterly breezes over the next several days. Breezes will peak Sunday night through Tuesday, when strong to near gale breezes will be possible. The freshening breezes and a surge of moisture may also support elevated rain and isolated strong thunderstorm chances Friday night through Monday. Climate On this day in 1883, the daily record rainfall of 1.66" was recorded in Key West. Rainfall records for Key West date back to 1871. OF NOTE On this day in 2005, a violent waterspout passed just west of Key West in the outermost rainband of approaching Hurricane Wilma. NOAA Key West FL Office: Watches - Warnings - Advisories FL...Coastal Flood Advisory until 5am EDT Saturday for FLZ076-077. GM...None. |
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