Sunrise 6:40 AM   Sunset 8:07 PM Moonrise 3:52 PM   Moonset 3:11 AM

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GMZ075 Expires:202405192030;;483865 Fzus52 Kkey 191430 Cwfkey
coastal waters forecast for the florida keys national weather service key west fl 1030 am edt Sun may 19 2024
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.
gmz052>055-072>075-192030- 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 Sun may 19 2024
This afternoon - South to southwest winds near 10 knots, becoming northwest to north 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 3 feet, subsiding to 1 to 2 feet. Wave detail: east to southeast 2 feet at 5 seconds. Isolated showers. Tonight - Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming south to southwest 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. Wave detail: east to southeast 1 foot at 4 seconds. Scattered showers and isolated Thunderstorms.Monday - Southwest to west winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming northwest near 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas around 1 foot. Wave detail: east to southeast 1 foot at 4 seconds and northwest 1 foot at 3 seconds. Scattered showers and isolated Thunderstorms.Monday night - Northwest winds near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet, subsiding to around 1 foot. Scattered showers and isolated Thunderstorms.Tuesday - Northwest to north winds near 5 knots, becoming variable. Seas around 1 foot. Scattered showers and isolated Thunderstorms.Tuesday night - Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming east. Seas around 1 foot. Scattered showers and isolated Thunderstorms. Wednesday - East winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Isolated showers and Thunderstorms. Wednesday night - East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Isolated showers and Thunderstorms. Thursday - East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Isolated showers and Thunderstorms. Thursday night - East winds near 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Isolated showers and Thunderstorms.

GMZ005 Synopsis For Keys Coastal Waters From Ocean Reef To Dry Tortugas 1030 Am Edt Sun May 19 2024
Synopsis - The western extent of a low-level ridge axis that extends west-northwest has begun to loosen its grip across the florida keys, and breezes have shifted to the south to southwest. Breezes will quickly veer to the north while further decreasing this afternoon as a frontal boundary slides down the florida peninsula. There may be a break in the rain-free conditions tonight through Tuesday, followed by variable breezes turning to the east Wednesday through Thursday.
the approximate shoreward edge of the gulf stream as of may 15, 2024 - .
49 nm south of dry tortugas light - .on loggerhead key. 32 nm south of cosgrove shoal light - .off the marquesas keys. 24 nm south of sand key light - .off key west. 27 nm south of looe key - .off big pine key. 29 nm south of sombrero key light - .off marathon. 8 nm southeast of alligator reef light - .off islamorada. 3 nm southeast of molasses reef light - .off key largo.
gulf stream information courtesy of the national weather service in key west.

FXUS62 KKEY 191434 AFDKEY

Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Key West FL 1034 AM EDT Sun May 19 2024

New DISCUSSION, MARINE, AVIATION

DISCUSSION
Issued at 1030 AM EDT Sun May 19 2024 Today is Day 3 of the heat wave for the Florida Keys with the hot and tropical conditions continuing. KBYX radar remains quiet this morning with GOES 16 Visible satellite imagery showing some low level fair weather cumulus clouds moving from southwest to northeast across the easternmost portions of the Florida Keys.
With plenty of sunshine out there again today, temperatures along the Island Chain are in the mid to upper 80s already. Some isolated locations are already recording 90 degrees at this hour, namely Big Pine Key and Boca Chica Key. Dew points are also very oppressive in the upper 70s to near 80 degrees. This is making the heat index across many island communities feel like it is in the 100s already and its just about half past 10 am. As a result, a Heat Advisory is in effect from 10 AM EDT this morning until 6 PM EDT this evening for heat index values up to 110 degrees. Deep mean layer ridging remains in place across the Keys, though, today we are on the northwestern periphery of the ridge as this ridge begins to slide further off to the southeast as a weak frontal boundary slides down the Florida Peninsula. Due to this, marine platforms around the Keys are observing south to southwest winds near 10 knots with Island Chain communities observing near 10 mph.

SHORT TERM FORECAST
The 12z sounding this morning is beginning to show better signs for it to potentially rain here in the Keys. However, the sounding still shows dry layers which may continue to inhibit any potential shower/thunderstorm development today. There is one inversion present around 925 mb with another one just above 800 mb. While we are starting to see a moistening profile, the dry layer between 925 mb to approximately 850 mb is concerning to get any substantial growth to the clouds through the area currently.
If we can get a significant trigger that can help to raise the air parcels then we might be able to punch through this layer to cause showers/storms to form. However, that doesn't appear likely at least during the day. That might change tonight as the weak frontal boundary sliding down the Florida Peninsula gets closer.
There is also a decent veering profile to the sounding, albeit, light winds. Also, there is plenty of instability with CAPE coming in over 3000 J/kg! Moisture is also sufficient with the PWAT measured to be 1.80 inches. While we have most of the ingredients coming together, we continue to lack at least one and that one today is the trigger again. Therefore, no changes expected to the ongoing forecast.

MARINE
Issued at 1030 AM EDT Sun May 19 2024 There are currently no watches, warnings, or advisories in effect across the Florida Keys coastal waters. From synopsis, the western extent of a low-level ridge axis that extends west- northwest has begun to loosen its grip across the Florida Keys, and breezes have shifted to the south to southwest. Breezes will quickly veer to the north while further decreasing this afternoon as a frontal boundary slides down the Florida peninsula. There may be a break in the rain-free conditions tonight through Tuesday, followed by variable breezes turning to the east Wednesday through Thursday.

AVIATION
(15Z TAFS)
Issued at 1030 AM EDT Sun May 19 2024 VFR conditions will be the predominant weather at EYW and MTH today and into the early evening hours. A slight chance for showers will remain today, but the lack of confidence in location and timing resulted in VCSH being absent from the TAFs. Overnight, near-surface winds are forecast to shift westward and slacken to near 5 knots. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are forecast along the Keys, but hi-res guidance is showing activity developing overnight, therefore, VCSH may be added for the overnight to Monday morning time frame with the 18z TAF.
Occasional MVFR CIGs will linger across EYW and MTH this morning as early morning cloud decks dissipate.

CLIMATE
Yesterday, May 18th, the low temperature at both Key West and Marathon was 84F. This broke daily record warm low temperatures at both sites. At Marathon, this low temperature tied the highest warm low ever recorded in May in Marathon (current record that was tied: 84F, 2017), and broke the highest warm low ever recorded in May in Key West (previous record: 83F, 2024, 2020, 2017).
Temperature records date back to 1872 in Key West and 1950 in Marathon.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS
Key West 91 80 88 79 / 10 40 30 40 Marathon 91 80 88 79 / 10 40 30 40

KEY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
FL...Heat Advisory until 6 PM EDT this evening for FLZ076>078.

GM...None.

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Sand Key Lighthouse
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Sun -- 12:47 AM EDT     0.33 feet Low Tide
Sun -- 04:10 AM EDT     Moonset
Sun -- 06:42 AM EDT     Sunrise
Sun -- 06:57 AM EDT     1.37 feet High Tide
Sun -- 01:40 PM EDT     0.04 feet Low Tide
Sun -- 04:51 PM EDT     Moonrise
Sun -- 07:59 PM EDT     1.06 feet High Tide
Sun -- 08:06 PM EDT     Sunset
Tide / Current data from XTide NOT FOR NAVIGATION

Sand Key Lighthouse, Sand Key Channel, Florida, Tide feet

Boca Grande Channel
Click for Map
Sun -- 02:07 AM EDT     0.00 knots Slack
Sun -- 04:10 AM EDT     Moonset
Sun -- 04:53 AM EDT     0.75 knots Max Flood
Sun -- 06:42 AM EDT     Sunrise
Sun -- 08:00 AM EDT     -0.00 knots Slack
Sun -- 11:22 AM EDT     -1.17 knots Max Ebb
Sun -- 02:16 PM EDT     0.00 knots Slack
Sun -- 04:51 PM EDT     Moonrise
Sun -- 05:22 PM EDT     1.07 knots Max Flood
Sun -- 08:07 PM EDT     Sunset
Sun -- 08:50 PM EDT     -0.00 knots Slack
Sun -- 11:57 PM EDT     -1.11 knots Max Ebb
Tide / Current data from XTide NOT FOR NAVIGATION

Boca Grande Channel, Florida Current, knots

Full Color Weather Map

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Key West, FL,