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Upper Matecumbe Key, FL - Hawk Channel Coastal Forecast

FZUS52 KKEY 210924
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
424 AM EST Sun Dec 21 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.

GMZ005-212130-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
424 AM EST Sun Dec 21 2025

.SYNOPSIS...A continental high pressure cell will advance
eastward from the Eastern Seaboard to the western North Atlantic
today. Cold continental air will reinforce this high today and
tonight, and fresh to strong northeast to east breezes will
develop across all Florida Keys coastal waters by tonight
continuing through Tuesday night. Mainly fresh northeast to east
breezes will peak and lull Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of December 15...

26 NM South of Dry Tortugas Light...on Loggerhead Key.
21 NM South of Cosgrove Shoal Light...off the Marquesas Keys.
15 NM South of Sand Key Light...off Key West.
18 NM South of Looe Key...off Big Pine Key.
16 NM Southeast of Sombrero Key Light...off Marathon.
13 NM Southeast of Alligator Reef Light...off Islamorada.
7 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.

$$

GMZ031-212130-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
424 AM EST Sun Dec 21 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY LIKELY WILL BE REQUIRED MONDAY...

.TODAY...Northeast to east winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to
near 10 knots. Bay waters smooth to a light chop, becoming a
light chop.
.TONIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming
northeast and increasing to near 15 knots. Bay waters a light to
moderate chop, becoming a moderate chop.
.MONDAY...Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots, becoming northeast to
east and increasing to 20 to 25 knots in the afternoon. Bay
waters choppy, becoming very rough.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 20 to 25 knots. Bay
waters very rough. Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY...Northeast to east winds near 20 knots. Bay waters
rough. Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Bay
waters choppy.
.WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20
knots. Bay waters choppy.
.THURSDAY...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots. Bay waters a
moderate chop.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots,
decreasing to near 10 knots. Bay waters a light to moderate chop,
becoming a light chop. Isolated showers.

$$

GMZ032-035-212130-
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-
424 AM EST Sun Dec 21 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY LIKELY WILL BE REQUIRED MONDAY...

.TODAY...Northeast to east winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to near
10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except around 2 feet west of the
Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters smooth to a light chop, becoming
a light chop.
.TONIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to
near 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, except building to 2 to 3 feet
west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a light to moderate
chop, becoming a moderate chop.
.MONDAY...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots, increasing to 20
to 25 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except building to 3 to 4 feet,
occasionally to 5 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore
waters choppy, becoming very rough.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 2 to
4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, except 4 to 5 feet, occasionally
to 6 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters very rough.
.TUESDAY...Northeast to east winds near 20 knots, decreasing to
15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 4 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore
waters rough, becoming choppy. Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 20 knots, decreasing
to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 4 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore
waters rough, becoming choppy.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet, except 4 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet west of the
Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters choppy.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to 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...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to
near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 3 to 4 feet, occasionally
to 5 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters choppy,
becoming a moderate chop.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots,
decreasing to near 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, subsiding to 1 to
2 feet. West of the Marquesas Keys, seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally
to 5 feet, subsiding to 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters a light to
moderate chop, becoming a light chop. Isolated showers.

$$

GMZ042>044-212130-
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-
424 AM EST Sun Dec 21 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY LIKELY WILL BE REQUIRED MONDAY...

.TODAY...Northeast to east winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light chop. Isolated showers.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to 15 to
20 knots after midnight. Seas around 2 feet, building to 2 to 3
feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming choppy.
.MONDAY...Northeast to east winds near 20 knots, increasing to 20
to 25 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, building
to 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 7 feet. Nearshore waters rough,
becoming very rough. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 4 to
6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet. Nearshore waters very rough.
Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY...Northeast to east winds near 20 knots. Seas 3 to
5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Nearshore waters rough. Isolated
showers.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 20 to 25 knots,
decreasing to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6
feet. Nearshore waters very rough, becoming choppy.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to
4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters choppy.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2
to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, except 3 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore
waters choppy.
.THURSDAY...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to
4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, except 3 to 5 feet, occasionally
to 6 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters choppy.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east 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. West of Cosgrove Shoal Light,
seas 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 6 feet, subsiding to around 3
feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop, becoming a light to
moderate chop. Isolated showers.

$$

GMZ052>055-072>075-212130-
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-
424 AM EST Sun Dec 21 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY LIKELY WILL BE REQUIRED LATE TONIGHT...

.TODAY...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east 3 feet at 5 seconds and
northwest 1 foot at 6 seconds. Isolated showers.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds near 15 knots, increasing to near 20
knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, building to 3 to
5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east 5
feet at 6 seconds and northwest 1 foot at 5 seconds. Isolated
showers.
.MONDAY...Northeast to east winds 20 to 25 knots, increasing to
near 25 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet, building
to 5 to 8 feet, occasionally to 10 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast
to east 8 feet at 7 seconds. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 25 knots, decreasing
to 20 to 25 knots. Seas 8 to 10 feet, occasionally to 13 feet.
Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY...Northeast to east winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 6 to
9 feet, occasionally to 11 feet. Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas
6 to 9 feet, occasionally to 11 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast to east winds near 20 knots. Seas 5 to
7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet. Isolated showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 20 to 25 knots,
decreasing to near 20 knots. Seas 5 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9
feet.
.THURSDAY...Northeast to east winds near 20 knots, decreasing to 15
to 20 knots. Seas 5 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots,
decreasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8
feet, subsiding to 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Isolated
showers.

$$

GMZ033-034-212130-
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-
424 AM EST Sun Dec 21 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY LIKELY WILL BE REQUIRED MONDAY...

.TODAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Wave
Detail: Northwest 2 feet at 6 seconds and northeast to east 1
foot at 3 seconds.
.TONIGHT...North to northeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming
northeast and increasing to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet,
building to 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Wave Detail:
Northeast 2 feet at 3 seconds and northwest 1 foot at 5 seconds.
.MONDAY...Northeast winds near 20 knots, briefly decreasing to 15
to 20 knots in the afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6
feet. Wave Detail: Northeast 3 feet at 4 seconds. Isolated
showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 20 knots. Seas 3 to
5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet.
.TUESDAY...Northeast to east winds near 20 knots, briefly
decreasing to 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet. Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 20 knots. Seas 3 to
5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast to east winds near 20 knots, decreasing to
10 to 15 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet.
Isolated showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots,
increasing to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5
feet.
.THURSDAY...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to
4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds decreasing to 10 to 15 knots.
Seas subsiding to 1 to 2 feet.

$$

MJV


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