Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Key West, FL
February 19, 2025 3:44 AM EST (08:44 UTC) Change Location
 | Sunrise 6:56 AM Sunset 6:25 PM Moonrise 12:00 AM Moonset 10:50 AM |
GMZ044 Expires:202502190930;;142643 Fzus52 Kkey 190324 Cwfkey
coastal waters forecast for the florida keys national weather service key west fl 1024 pm est Tue feb 18 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.
gmz042>044-190930- 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- 1024 pm est Tue feb 18 2025
Overnight - Northeast to east winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming east to southeast after midnight. Seas 1 to 2 feet. NEarshore waters smooth to a light chop.
Wednesday - Southeast winds near 10 knots, becoming south 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. NEarshore waters a light chop, becoming smooth to a light chop.
Wednesday night - Variable winds near 5 knots, becoming west 5 to 10 knots after midnight. Seas around 1 foot. NEarshore waters smooth, becoming smooth to a light chop. Isolated showers.
Thursday - West to northwest winds near 10 knots, becoming northwest to north 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon. Seas around 1 foot. West of cosgrove shoal light, seas around 1 foot, building to 2 to 3 feet. NEarshore waters a light chop, becoming choppy. Isolated showers.
Thursday night - North to northeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet west of cosgrove shoal light. NEarshore waters choppy. Isolated showers.
Friday - Northeast winds near 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet, except 4 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet west of cosgrove shoal light. NEarshore waters rough. Isolated showers.
Friday night - Northeast to east winds near 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, except 4 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet west of cosgrove shoal light. NEarshore waters rough. Isolated showers.
Saturday - East winds near 20 knots, decreasing to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, except 4 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet west of cosgrove shoal light. NEarshore waters rough, becoming choppy. Isolated showers.
Saturday night - East winds decreasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. NEarshore waters becoming a light to moderate chop. Isolated showers.
Sunday - East winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming northeast to east near 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. NEarshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a light chop. Scattered showers.
Sunday night - North to northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. NEarshore waters smooth to a light chop. Scattered showers.
coastal waters forecast for the florida keys national weather service key west fl 1024 pm est Tue feb 18 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.
gmz042>044-190930- 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- 1024 pm est Tue feb 18 2025
GMZ005 Synopsis For Keys Coastal Waters From Ocean Reef To Dry Tortugas 1024 Pm Est Tue Feb 18 2025
Synopsis - Light and variable breezes will veer to the east to southeast late tonight. Light to gentle breezes will veer around the compass Wednesday through Thursday morning. A cold front is expected to move through the keys coastal waters on Thursday, followed by moderate to fresh breezes through Friday night. In the wake of the front, strong surface high pressure will traverse across the eastern united states Saturday and Saturday night, maintaining moderate to fresh easterly breezes.
the approximate shoreward edge of the gulf stream as of february 12 - .
11 nm south of dry tortugas light - .on loggerhead key. 6 nm south of cosgrove shoal light - .off the marquesas keys. 4 nm south of sand key light - .off key west. 9 nm south of looe key - .off big pine key. 9 nm south of sombrero key light - .off marathon. 11 nm southeast of alligator reef light - .off islamorada. 10 nm southeast of molasses reef light - .off key largo. 7 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.
the approximate shoreward edge of the gulf stream as of february 12 - .
11 nm south of dry tortugas light - .on loggerhead key. 6 nm south of cosgrove shoal light - .off the marquesas keys. 4 nm south of sand key light - .off key west. 9 nm south of looe key - .off big pine key. 9 nm south of sombrero key light - .off marathon. 11 nm southeast of alligator reef light - .off islamorada. 10 nm southeast of molasses reef light - .off key largo. 7 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.
NEW! Add second zone forecast
| Sand Key Lighthouse Click for Map Wed -- 01:02 AM EST 0.73 feet High Tide Wed -- 05:58 AM EST 0.31 feet Low Tide Wed -- 06:58 AM EST Sunrise Wed -- 10:49 AM EST Moonset Wed -- 12:43 PM EST 1.27 feet High Tide Wed -- 06:24 PM EST Sunset Wed -- 08:17 PM EST -0.05 feet Low Tide Tide / Current data from XTide NOT FOR NAVIGATION |
Sand Key Lighthouse, Sand Key Channel, Florida, Tide feet
| 12 am |
| 0.7 |
| 1 am |
| 0.7 |
| 2 am |
| 0.7 |
| 3 am |
| 0.6 |
| 4 am |
| 0.4 |
| 5 am |
| 0.3 |
| 6 am |
| 0.3 |
| 7 am |
| 0.3 |
| 8 am |
| 0.5 |
| 9 am |
| 0.6 |
| 10 am |
| 0.9 |
| 11 am |
| 1.1 |
| 12 pm |
| 1.2 |
| 1 pm |
| 1.3 |
| 2 pm |
| 1.2 |
| 3 pm |
| 0.9 |
| 4 pm |
| 0.7 |
| 5 pm |
| 0.4 |
| 6 pm |
| 0.2 |
| 7 pm |
| 0 |
| 8 pm |
| -0 |
| 9 pm |
| -0 |
| 10 pm |
| 0.1 |
| 11 pm |
| 0.2 |
| Boca Grande Channel Click for Map Wed -- 02:13 AM EST -0.00 knots Slack Wed -- 05:10 AM EST -0.65 knots Max Ebb Wed -- 06:59 AM EST Sunrise Wed -- 08:14 AM EST 0.00 knots Slack Wed -- 10:36 AM EST 0.65 knots Max Flood Wed -- 10:50 AM EST Moonset Wed -- 01:15 PM EST -0.00 knots Slack Wed -- 05:17 PM EST -0.92 knots Max Ebb Wed -- 06:25 PM EST Sunset Wed -- 08:47 PM EST 0.00 knots Slack Wed -- 11:23 PM EST 0.83 knots Max Flood Tide / Current data from XTide NOT FOR NAVIGATION |
Boca Grande Channel, Florida Current, knots
| 12 am |
| 0.7 |
| 1 am |
| 0.4 |
| 2 am |
| 0.1 |
| 3 am |
| -0.2 |
| 4 am |
| -0.5 |
| 5 am |
| -0.7 |
| 6 am |
| -0.6 |
| 7 am |
| -0.4 |
| 8 am |
| -0.1 |
| 9 am |
| 0.3 |
| 10 am |
| 0.6 |
| 11 am |
| 0.6 |
| 12 pm |
| 0.4 |
| 1 pm |
| 0.1 |
| 2 pm |
| -0.2 |
| 3 pm |
| -0.5 |
| 4 pm |
| -0.8 |
| 5 pm |
| -0.9 |
| 6 pm |
| -0.9 |
| 7 pm |
| -0.7 |
| 8 pm |
| -0.3 |
| 9 pm |
| 0.1 |
| 10 pm |
| 0.6 |
| 11 pm |
| 0.8 |
FXUS62 KKEY 190323 AFDKEY
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Key West FL 1023 PM EST Tue Feb 18 2025
New DISCUSSION, MARINE, AVIATION
DISCUSSION
Issued at 1023 PM EST Tue Feb 18 2025
Partly cloudy, mild and dry conditions prevail along the Florida Keys on this Tuesday evening, with temperatures in the lower to mid 70s, dewpoints near 70, and winds on land from the north around 5 mph across the Lower Keys, and near calm elsewhere.
Radars detect scattered showers offshore from the Southeast Florida coast, but no precipitation across the Keys. Surface analysis depicts weak high pressure over the western Atlantic and Florida peninsula, with a cold front draped from the Southern Appalachians to South Texas. A massive area of Arctic high pressure dominates much of the CONUS to the north of this frontal boundary, but fortunately those wintry conditions will not be reaching the Keys. The 00Z Key West sounding showed that the frontal inversion sampled 24 hours earlier had disappeared, but a subsidence inversion was still present up near 650 mb. PW of 1.23 inches was slightly above normal for the date. Recent MIMIC-TPW satellite imagery shows the stripe of somewhat greater moisture (estimated PWs between 1.2 and 1.3 inches) associated with the now dissipated front that moved through the area on Monday still lingering along and south of the Keys.
Overnight, very weak low level flow and a complete lack of forcing or apparent existing boundaries across the area should prevent any shower development, in spite of slightly above normal PWs in place. CAM guidance concurs, with isolated to scattered shower activity remaining along and offshore from the SE Florida coast.
Temps will drift down only a couple more degrees overnight, with most locations seeing readings in the lower 70s by morning. The existing forecast is on track, and no changes are planned for this evening.
MARINE
Issued at 1023 PM EST Tue Feb 18 2025
Evening observations show northerly breezes of 6 to 10 knots at Sand Key, while light and variable breezes prevail at Long Key and Alligator Reef Light. No significant changes are planned for the late evening forecast update. From the synopsis, light and variable breezes will veer to the east to southeast late tonight.
Light to gentle breezes will veer around the compass Wednesday through Thursday morning. A cold front is expected to move through the Keys coastal waters on Thursday, followed by moderate to fresh breezes through Friday night. In the wake of the front, strong surface high pressure will traverse across the eastern United States Saturday and Saturday night, maintaining moderate to fresh easterly breezes.
AVIATION
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 1023 PM EST Tue Feb 18 2025
Periods of MVFR ceilings will be possible at the EYW and MTH terminals overnight into early Wednesday morning. Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail through Wednesday afternoon, with no significant shower activity expected. Light and variable winds will become E/SE around 5 knots late tonight, then SE/S 5 to 8 knots on Wednesday.
KEY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
FL...None.
GM...None.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Key West FL 1023 PM EST Tue Feb 18 2025
New DISCUSSION, MARINE, AVIATION
DISCUSSION
Issued at 1023 PM EST Tue Feb 18 2025
Partly cloudy, mild and dry conditions prevail along the Florida Keys on this Tuesday evening, with temperatures in the lower to mid 70s, dewpoints near 70, and winds on land from the north around 5 mph across the Lower Keys, and near calm elsewhere.
Radars detect scattered showers offshore from the Southeast Florida coast, but no precipitation across the Keys. Surface analysis depicts weak high pressure over the western Atlantic and Florida peninsula, with a cold front draped from the Southern Appalachians to South Texas. A massive area of Arctic high pressure dominates much of the CONUS to the north of this frontal boundary, but fortunately those wintry conditions will not be reaching the Keys. The 00Z Key West sounding showed that the frontal inversion sampled 24 hours earlier had disappeared, but a subsidence inversion was still present up near 650 mb. PW of 1.23 inches was slightly above normal for the date. Recent MIMIC-TPW satellite imagery shows the stripe of somewhat greater moisture (estimated PWs between 1.2 and 1.3 inches) associated with the now dissipated front that moved through the area on Monday still lingering along and south of the Keys.
Overnight, very weak low level flow and a complete lack of forcing or apparent existing boundaries across the area should prevent any shower development, in spite of slightly above normal PWs in place. CAM guidance concurs, with isolated to scattered shower activity remaining along and offshore from the SE Florida coast.
Temps will drift down only a couple more degrees overnight, with most locations seeing readings in the lower 70s by morning. The existing forecast is on track, and no changes are planned for this evening.
MARINE
Issued at 1023 PM EST Tue Feb 18 2025
Evening observations show northerly breezes of 6 to 10 knots at Sand Key, while light and variable breezes prevail at Long Key and Alligator Reef Light. No significant changes are planned for the late evening forecast update. From the synopsis, light and variable breezes will veer to the east to southeast late tonight.
Light to gentle breezes will veer around the compass Wednesday through Thursday morning. A cold front is expected to move through the Keys coastal waters on Thursday, followed by moderate to fresh breezes through Friday night. In the wake of the front, strong surface high pressure will traverse across the eastern United States Saturday and Saturday night, maintaining moderate to fresh easterly breezes.
AVIATION
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 1023 PM EST Tue Feb 18 2025
Periods of MVFR ceilings will be possible at the EYW and MTH terminals overnight into early Wednesday morning. Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail through Wednesday afternoon, with no significant shower activity expected. Light and variable winds will become E/SE around 5 knots late tonight, then SE/S 5 to 8 knots on Wednesday.
KEY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
FL...None.
GM...None.
| Stations | Dist | Age | Wind | Air | Water | Waves | inHg | DewPt |
| 42095 | 13 mi | 74 min | 75°F | 76°F | 1 ft | |||
| SANF1 - Sand Key, FL | 15 mi | 54 min | ESE 8G | 74°F | 29.99 | 70°F | ||
| KYWF1 - 8724580 - Key West, FL | 17 mi | 56 min | 78°F | 30.02 |
Wind History for Key West, FL
toggle option: (graph/table)
Link to 1 hour of 5 minute data for KEYW
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) for KEYW
Wind History Graph: EYW
(wind in knots)
GEOS Local Image of gulf of mexico
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Key West, FL,
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