Sunrise 6:40 AM   Sunset 8:06 PM Moonrise 3:00 PM   Moonset 2:40 AM

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GMZ044 Expires:202405181430;;412675 Fzus52 Kkey 180829 Cwfkey
coastal waters forecast for the florida keys national weather service key west fl 429 am edt Sat may 18 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.
gmz042>044-181430- 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- 429 am edt Sat may 18 2024
Today - Southeast to south winds 10 to 15 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet, subsiding to around 1 foot. NEarshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming smooth to a light chop.Tonight - East to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming southeast to south 10 to 15 knots after midnight. Seas around 1 foot, building to around 2 feet. NEarshore waters smooth to a light chop, becoming a light to moderate chop. Isolated showers. Sunday - Southeast to south winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming southwest to west 5 to 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas around 2 feet, subsiding to around 1 foot. NEarshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers and Thunderstorms.Sunday night - West to northwest winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming west after midnight. Seas around 1 foot. NEarshore waters smooth to a light chop. Scattered showers and isolated Thunderstorms. Monday - West winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. NEarshore waters smooth to a light chop. Scattered showers and isolated Thunderstorms. Monday night - Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. NEarshore waters smooth to a light chop. Scattered showers and isolated Thunderstorms. Tuesday - Northwest to north winds near 5 knots, becoming variable. Seas 1 foot or less. NEarshore waters smooth. Scattered showers and isolated Thunderstorms. Tuesday night - North winds near 5 knots, becoming northeast to east. Seas 1 foot or less. NEarshore waters smooth. Scattered showers and isolated Thunderstorms. Wednesday - East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas around 1 foot. NEarshore waters smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers and Thunderstorms. Wednesday night - East to southeast winds near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. NEarshore waters a light chop. Isolated showers and Thunderstorms.

GMZ005 Synopsis For Keys Coastal Waters From Ocean Reef To Dry Tortugas 429 Am Edt Sat May 18 2024
Synopsis - The western extent of a low-level ridge axis extends west-northwest through the bahamas and across the keys. Southeast breezes will tend to peak and lull overnight through Sunday as the heating and cooling of south florida and cuba modulate the local wind forecast. There may be a break in the rain-free conditions Sunday night through Tuesday, followed by variable breezes Tuesday through Wednesday.
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 180845 AFDKEY

Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Key West FL 445 AM EDT Sat May 18 2024

New DISCUSSION, MARINE, AVIATION

DISCUSSION
Issued at 445 AM EDT Sat May 18 2024 It's yet another unseasonably warm morning in the Florida Keys.
Current temperatures across the island chain are in the lower to mid 80s and dewpoints close behind with values near 80. KBYX is once again clear of any precipitable echoes as mean layer ridging is suppressing convective development across South Florida and the Western Caribbean. Cloud cover is generally confined to isolated patches of shallow cumulus in the Straits of Florida.

As our synoptic pattern remains relatively unchanged from yesterday, we are expecting another hot day today. Usually, this would be a good time to look for developing thunderstorms but weakening southerly breezes due to mainland heating and a fairly dry mid to upper level atmosphere will choke out any possible showers. Unfortunately, this has little effect on our low level moisture meaning that dewpoints will continue to be in the upper 70s today. As a result, a Heat Advisory will be in effect from 10 AM this morning until later this evening as heat index values are forecast to reach up to 110 degrees. Tonight will also be a repeat of previous nights with breezes freshening with the cooling of South Florida's temperatures and low temperatures in the lower to mid 80s.

Sunday will also be another hot day across the Keys, only this time some of our synoptic puzzle pieces will start to shift.
Sunday night into Monday, the deep layer ridging will shift east towards the Atlantic as a mid latitude trough settles on the ridge's northeast periphery and slides into the Gulf of Mexico from the Midwest. Guidance continues to be consistently conflicted on how much low level moisture will be available with this trough's approach. Opted to hold chance PoPs and slight chance thunder from Sunday night into Tuesday. Temperatures should start to return near normal at the start of the week as well with breezes shifting to the north. There's still a chance that this will advect some lower dewpoints into our area in the middle of the week, but the signal is certainly not as strong as it was a few days ago. Stay tuned.

MARINE
Issued at 445 AM EDT Sat May 18 2024 Currently no watches, warnings, or advisories are in effect for the Florida Keys coastal waters. From synopsis, the western extent of a low-level ridge axis extends west-northwest through the Bahamas and across the Keys. Southeast breezes will tend to peak and lull overnight through Sunday as the heating and cooling of South Florida and Cuba modulate the local wind forecast. There may be a break in the rain-free conditions Sunday night through Tuesday, followed by variable breezes Tuesday through Wednesday.

AVIATION
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 445 AM EDT Sat May 18 2024 VFR conditions are expected through tomorrow morning at EYW and MTH.
Surface winds will oscillate between south southeast and east southeast over the course of the TAF period, remaining between 6 to 12 knots.

CLIMATE
On this day in 1994, the daily record rainfall of 2.52" was recorded in Marathon. Rainfall records date back to 1950.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS
Key West 92 82 92 79 / 0 10 20 30 Marathon 91 83 91 80 / 10 10 20 30

KEY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
FL...Heat Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 6 PM EDT this evening for FLZ076>078.

GM...None.

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Key Lois
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Sat -- 12:07 AM EDT     0.27 feet Low Tide
Sat -- 03:40 AM EDT     Moonset
Sat -- 06:09 AM EDT     1.44 feet High Tide
Sat -- 06:40 AM EDT     Sunrise
Sat -- 12:50 PM EDT     0.22 feet Low Tide
Sat -- 03:58 PM EDT     Moonrise
Sat -- 06:42 PM EDT     1.27 feet High Tide
Sat -- 08:04 PM EDT     Sunset
Tide / Current data from XTide NOT FOR NAVIGATION

Key Lois, southeast end, Florida, Tide feet

Baha Honda Harbor (Bridge) Florida Current, knots

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