Your Ultimate Boating Resource

HomeForecastsFlorida ForecastsSugarloaf Key, FL - North End, Bow Channel Coastal Forecast

Sugarloaf Key, FL - North End, Bow Channel Coastal Forecast

FZUS52 KKEY 210836
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
436 AM EDT Tue Apr 21 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.

GMZ005-212045-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
436 AM EDT Tue Apr 21 2026

.SYNOPSIS...Fresh to strong northeast to east breezes will
continue through Wednesday as high pressure builds across the
Eastern Seaboard in the wake of last evenings front. This high
will continue to slowly migrate into the western North Atlantic
over the next several days. As the high slowly weakens, breezes
will begin to slacken by Thursday. Gentle to moderate breezes are
expected for Friday and Saturday.

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

16 NM South of Dry Tortugas Light...on Loggerhead Key.
12 NM South of Cosgrove Shoal Light...off the Marquesas Keys.
22 NM South of Sand Key Light...off Key West.
30 NM South of Looe Key...off Big Pine Key.
26 NM Southeast of Sombrero Key Light...off Marathon.
20 NM Southeast of Alligator Reef Light...off Islamorada.
15 NM Southeast of Molasses Reef Light...off Key Largo.
9 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.

$$

GMZ031-212045-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
436 AM EDT Tue Apr 21 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT...

.TODAY...Northeast winds 20 to 25 knots, becoming northeast to
east and increasing to near 25 knots. Bay waters very rough,
becoming extremely rough. A slight chance of showers.
.TONIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 25 knots, decreasing to 20
to 25 knots. Bay waters extremely rough, becoming very rough.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds 20 to 25 knots, decreasing to 15 to 20
knots. Bay waters very rough, becoming choppy.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to near
15 knots. Bay waters choppy, becoming a moderate chop. A slight
chance of showers.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 15 knots. Bay waters a moderate chop.
A slight chance of showers.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds near 15 knots, becoming east to
southeast and 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.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a
light to moderate chop. A chance of showers with a slight chance
of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay
waters a light to moderate chop. A slight chance of showers.
.SATURDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a
light chop.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters smooth to
a light chop.

$$

GMZ032-035-212045-
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-
436 AM EDT Tue Apr 21 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT...

.TODAY...Northeast winds 20 to 25 knots, becoming northeast to
east and increasing to near 25 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet, except 5 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet
west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters very rough, becoming
extremely rough. A slight chance of showers.
.TONIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 25 knots, decreasing to 20
to 25 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet, except 5
to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet west of the Marquesas Keys.
Nearshore waters extremely rough, becoming very rough.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds 20 to 25 knots, decreasing to near 20
knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, except 4 to 6
feet, occasionally to 8 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore
waters very rough, becoming rough.
.WEDNESDAY 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. A slight chance of showers.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except
around 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a
moderate chop. A chance of showers.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 15 knots,
decreasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except 2 to 3
feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a moderate chop,
becoming a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers with a
slight chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around
1 foot, except around 2 feet west of the Marquesas Keys.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers
with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas
around 1 foot, except around 2 feet west of the Marquesas Keys.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A slight chance of
showers.
.SATURDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5
to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less, except 1 to 2 feet west of the
Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a light chop, becoming smooth to
a light chop.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop.

$$

GMZ042>044-212045-
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-
436 AM EDT Tue Apr 21 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT...

.TODAY...Northeast winds 20 to 25 knots, becoming northeast to
east and increasing to near 25 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet,
occasionally to 8 feet. Nearshore waters very rough, becoming
extremely rough. A chance of showers.
.TONIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 25 knots, decreasing to
20 to 25 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet.
Nearshore waters extremely rough, becoming very rough. A slight
chance of showers.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds 20 to 25 knots, decreasing to near 20
knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet, subsiding to 3
to 5 feet, occasionally to 7 feet. Nearshore waters very rough,
becoming rough. A slight chance of showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet. Nearshore waters choppy. A slight chance
of showers.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop. A
chance of showers.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 15 knots,
decreasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5
feet, subsiding to 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop,
becoming a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers with a
slight chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around
2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of
showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas
around 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A
slight chance of showers.
.SATURDAY...East to southeast 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.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.
Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop.

$$

GMZ052>055-072>075-212045-
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-
436 AM EDT Tue Apr 21 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT...

.TODAY...Northeast to east winds 20 to 25 knots, increasing to
near 25 knots. Seas 5 to 8 feet, occasionally to 10 feet,
building to 7 to 10 feet, occasionally to 13 feet. Wave Detail:
Northeast to east 8 feet at 7 seconds and northwest 2 feet at 7
seconds, becoming northeast to east 10 feet at 8 seconds. A chance
of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
.TONIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 25 knots. Seas 8 to
11 feet, occasionally to 14 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east
10 feet at 8 seconds. A slight chance of showers.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds 20 to 25 knots, decreasing to near 20
knots. Seas 7 to 10 feet, occasionally to 13 feet, subsiding to 5
to 8 feet, occasionally to 10 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to
east 9 feet at 8 seconds, becoming east 7 feet at 7 seconds. A
slight chance of showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds near 20 knots, decreasing to 15 to
20 knots. Seas 5 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet, subsiding to
3 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet. A slight chance of showers.
.THURSDAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet,
occasionally to 7 feet. A chance of showers.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots, becoming east to
southeast and decreasing to 10 to 15 knots after midnight. Seas 3
to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet, subsiding to 2 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet. A chance of showers with a slight chance
of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to
4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. A chance of showers with a slight
chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5
to 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, subsiding 1 to 2 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds near 10 knots, increasing to 10 to
15 knots. Seas around 2 feet.

$$

GMZ033-034-212045-
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-
436 AM EDT Tue Apr 21 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT...

.TODAY...Northeast to east winds near 25 knots, decreasing to 20
to 25 knots. Seas 5 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet. Wave
Detail: North to northeast 6 feet at 6 seconds. A slight chance of
showers.
.TONIGHT...Northeast to east winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 5 to
7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east 5
feet at 5 seconds.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds near 20 knots, decreasing to 15 to 20
knots. Seas 5 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet, subsiding to 3
to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east
4 feet at 4 seconds, becoming east 4 feet at 4 seconds. A slight
chance of showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet. A slight chance of showers.
.THURSDAY...East winds near 15 knots, becoming east to southeast.
Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. A chance of showers.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds near 15 knots. Seas
2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. A chance of showers with a
slight chance of thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...East to southeast winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing to
near 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, subsiding to around 2 feet. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing
to 10 to 15 knots after midnight. Seas 1 to 2 feet. A slight
chance of showers.
.SATURDAY...East to southeast winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5
to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot.

$$

MJV


Don't Miss

Add us on Google to stay connected!
Add Us on Google