HomeForecastsFlorida ForecastsVaca Key, FL - Uscg Station, Florida Bay Coastal Forecast

Vaca Key, FL - Uscg Station, Florida Bay Coastal Forecast

FZUS52 KKEY 232124
CWFKEY

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys
National Weather Service Key West FL
424 PM EST Thu Jan 23 2025

Florida Bay, Hawk Channel and Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef
to south of Dry Tortugas, and the extreme southeastern Gulf of
Mexico, 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.

GMZ005-240330-
Synopsis for Keys coastal waters from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas
424 PM EST Thu Jan 23 2025

.SYNOPSIS...A weak surge in northerly breezes is occurring as a
reinforcing front begins to sweep across the area. Breezes will
then briefly slacken Friday morning before a stronger surge of
strong northerly winds arrives late Friday afternoon and continues
into Saturday. High pressure will then slide into the
Southeastern states, allowing breezes to become moderate to fresh
while veering around to the northeast on Sunday. Thereafter,
expect a very gradual slackening of breezes.

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream as of January 18...

24 NM South of Dry Tortugas Light...on Loggerhead Key.
23 NM South of Cosgrove Shoal Light...off the Marquesas Keys.
21 NM South of Sand Key Light...off Key West.
18 NM South of Looe Key...off Big Pine Key
20 NM South of Sombrero Key Light...off Marathon.
24 NM Southeast of Alligator Reef Light...off Islamorada.
11 NM Southeast of Molasses Reef Light...off Key Largo.
10 NM East of Carysfort Reef Light...off Ocean Reef.

Gulf Stream Information Courtesy of the National Weather Service in Key
West based on products from the Real Time Ocean Forecast System and
NASA SPoRT.

$$

GMZ031-240330-
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and
Buttonwood Sound-
424 PM EST Thu Jan 23 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY LIKELY WILL BE REQUIRED FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...Northwest to north winds near 15 knots. Bay waters a
moderate chop.
.FRIDAY...Northwest to north winds near 15 knots, increasing to 15
to 20 knots in the afternoon. Bay waters a moderate chop, becoming
choppy. Isolated showers.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds near 20 knots,
increasing to 20 to 25 knots. Bay waters rough, becoming very
rough.
.SATURDAY...North to northeast 20 to 25 knots, becoming northeast
15 to 20 knots. Bay waters very rough, becoming choppy.
.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...Northeast winds near 15 knots. Bay
waters a moderate chop.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds decreasing to 10 to 15
knots. Bay waters becoming a light to moderate chop. Isolated
showers.
.MONDAY...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters a
light to moderate chop. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay
waters a light to moderate chop. Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY...Northeast to east winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a
light chop.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds near 10 knots. Bay waters a
light chop.

$$

GMZ032-035-240330-
Bayside and Gulf side from Craig Key to west end of Seven Mile
Bridge-
Gulf of Mexico from west end of Seven Mile Bridge to Halfmoon
Shoal out to 5 Fathoms-
424 PM EST Thu Jan 23 2025

...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY LIKELY WILL BE REQUIRED FRIDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...Northwest to north winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to
4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters choppy.
.FRIDAY...Northwest to north winds 15 to 20 knots, increasing to
20 to 25 knots late. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet.
Nearshore waters choppy, becoming very rough late.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds 20 to 25 knots,
increasing to near 25 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6
feet, except 6 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet west of the
Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters very rough, becoming extremely
rough.
.SATURDAY...North to northeast winds 20 to 25 knots, becoming
northeast 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet, except 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to
8 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters very rough,
becoming choppy.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Northeast 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.
.SUNDAY...Northeast winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except
around 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore waters a
moderate chop.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet, except around 3 feet west of the Marquesas Keys.
Nearshore waters a moderate chop. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. Isolated
showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. Isolated
showers.
.TUESDAY...Northeast to east winds near 10 knots. Seas around 1
foot, except 1 to 2 feet west of the Marquesas Keys. Nearshore
waters a light chop.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop.

$$

GMZ042-240330-
Hawk Channel from Ocean Reef to Craig Key out to the reef-
424 PM EST Thu Jan 23 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY LIKELY WILL BE REQUIRED FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...Northwest to north winds near 15 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop.
.FRIDAY...Northwest to north winds near 15 knots, increasing to 15
to 20 knots late. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate
chop, becoming choppy late. Isolated showers.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds near 20 knots, increasing
to 20 to 25 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters rough,
becoming very rough.
.SATURDAY...Northeast winds 20 to 25 knots, decreasing to near 20
knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Nearshore waters
very rough, becoming rough.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots,
decreasing to near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5
feet. Nearshore waters choppy, becoming a moderate chop.
.SUNDAY...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots, becoming
around 10 knots after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore
waters a moderate chop, becoming a light chop. Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY...Northeast to east winds near 10 knots. Seas around 2
feet. Nearshore waters a light chop.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet. Nearshore waters a light chop.

$$

GMZ043-044-240330-
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 PM EST Thu Jan 23 2025

...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY LIKELY WILL BE REQUIRED FRIDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...Northwest to north winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 1 to
2 feet, except 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet west of
Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters choppy. Isolated showers.
.FRIDAY...Northwest to north winds 15 to 20 knots, increasing to
20 to 25 knots late. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 3 to 5 feet,
occasionally to 6 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore
waters choppy, becoming very rough late.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds 20 to 25 knots,
increasing to near 25 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 5 to 6
feet, occasionally to 8 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light.
Nearshore waters very rough, becoming extremely rough.
.SATURDAY...Northeast winds near 25 knots, decreasing to near 20
knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8
feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters extremely
rough, becoming very rough.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 20 knots,
decreasing to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 3 to 4
feet, occasionally to 5 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light.
Nearshore waters rough, becoming choppy.
.SUNDAY...Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Nearshore waters choppy.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Nearshore waters choppy. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3
feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. Isolated
showers.
.TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15
knots. Seas around 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate
chop.

$$

GMZ052-072-240330-
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-
424 PM EST Thu Jan 23 2025

...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION UNTIL WINDS DECREASE...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MAY BE REQUIRED FRIDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to near 15
knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Wave Detail:
Northwest 4 feet at 5 seconds and north to northeast 3 feet at 10
seconds.
.FRIDAY...Northwest to north winds near 15 knots, increasing to
near 20 knots late. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet.
Wave Detail: Northwest to north 4 feet at 5 seconds and north to
northeast 4 feet at 8 seconds. Isolated showers.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds near 20 knots,
increasing to 20 to 25 knots. Seas 5 to 8 feet, occasionally to 10
feet. Wave Detail: North 8 feet at 6 seconds. Isolated showers.
.SATURDAY...Northeast winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 6 to 8 feet,
occasionally to 10 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 20 knots,
decreasing to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8
feet. Isolated showers.
.SUNDAY...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to
5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Isolated showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 20 knots. Seas 4 to
5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to
5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to
4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas subsiding
to 2 to 3 feet. Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas
2 to 3 feet.

$$

GMZ053>055-073>075-240330-
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-
424 PM EST Thu Jan 23 2025

...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY LIKELY WILL BE REQUIRED FRIDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...Northwest to north winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to
4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Wave Detail: North to northeast
4 feet at 6 seconds. Isolated showers.
.FRIDAY...Northwest to north winds 15 to 20 knots, increasing to
20 to 25 knots late. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet.
Wave Detail: North to northeast 5 feet at 6 seconds.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Northwest to north winds near 25 knots,
becoming north to northeast 25 to 30 knots. Seas 5 to 8 feet,
occasionally to 10 feet. Wave Detail: North 7 feet at 7 seconds.
.SATURDAY...Northeast winds near 25 knots, decreasing to 20 to 25
knots. Seas 5 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 20 knots. Seas
5 to 7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet. Isolated showers.
.SUNDAY...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to
5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Isolated showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 20 knots. Seas 4 to
6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to
5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to
4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast to east winds near 15
knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Isolated showers.

$$

GMZ033-034-240330-
Gulf waters from East Cape Sable to Chokoloskee 20 to 60 NM out
and beyond 5 fathoms-
Gulf of Mexico including Dry Tortugas and Rebecca Shoal Channel-
424 PM EST Thu Jan 23 2025

...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY LIKELY WILL BE REQUIRED FRIDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...Northwest to north winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5
feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Wave Detail: Northwest to north 5
feet at 6 seconds. Isolated showers.
.FRIDAY...Northwest to north winds near 15 knots, increasing to
20 to 25 knots in the afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 feet, occasionally
to 5 feet, building to 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet in the
afternoon. Wave Detail: Northwest to north 4 feet at 6 seconds,
becoming northwest to north 6 feet at 6 seconds.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...North to northeast winds near 25 knots. Seas 5 to
7 feet, occasionally to 9 feet. Wave Detail: North 7 feet at 7
seconds.
.SATURDAY...Northeast winds 20 to 25 knots, decreasing to 15 to
20 knots in the afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8
feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to
4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet.
.SUNDAY...Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to near 15
knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to
northeast to east 15 to 20 knots after midnight. Seas 2 to
3 feet. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY...Northeast to east winds near 15 knots, decreasing to 10
to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Isolated showers.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.
Isolated showers.
.TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas
1 to 2 feet.

$$


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