textproduct: Key West

KEY MESSAGES

- Strong high pressure centered to the south of the Canadian Maritimes stretches southwestward into Florida and the Gulf. This will aid in breezy, possibly windy, conditions continuing through much of the week.

- The fast flow and modest moisture will result in chance of showers over the next couple of days.

- Modest instability will also aid in the potential for slight chance of thunder today and tonight.

- Moderate drought conditions will continue across the Keys for the foreseeable future. Even though showers are in the forecast over the next several days, it is not expected to be nearly enough to dent the drought conditions.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 124 PM EDT Mon Mar 30 2026 VFR conditions will prevail at EYW and MTH for the TAF period. Scattered showers near the island chain are capable of bringing short lived bursts of MVFR to IFR VIS or CIGs to both terminals. Near surface winds will remain easterly at 10 to 15 knots with occasional to frequent gusts.

PREV DISCUSSION

Issued at 433 AM EDT Mon Mar 30 2026 Strong Canadian high pressure across the central North Atlantic will meander for much of the week. This will keep the mainly easterly flow in place for several days. Therefore, expect breezy to potentially windy conditions to continue through much of next week as a result. Moisture undulations around the high will result in episodic showers with some periods wetter than others. Modest instability will also lend to the potential for thunder today and tonight. The instability ticks down a touch for Tuesday through Wednesday before ramping back up again for Wednesday night into the extended period. Temperatures will remain near normal for this time of the year with daytime highs in the lower 80s and overnight lows in the mid 70s. Dew points will also remain quite steady in the mid to upper 60s.

MARINE

Issued at 433 AM EDT Mon Mar 30 2026 A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for Hawk Channel and the Straits of Florida. Small Craft should exercise caution is headlines for Florida Bay, the southeast Gulf waters, and the Bayside/Gulfside waters. From synopsis, strong high pressure across the central North Atlantic will meander for several days. As a result, expect easterly fresh breezes, occasionally strong, especially in the Straits to prevail through the week. Breezes will also occasionally peak overnight into the morning hours and lull in the afternoon and evening hours, especially north of the Island Chain and across the SE Gulf.

CLIMATE

On this day in 1905, the daily record rainfall of 4.52 inches was recorded in Key West. Rainfall records for Key West date back to 1871.

OF NOTE In 2003, what would have been the warmest March ever was disrupted by a strong cold front on the evening of the 30th, which brought behind it high and low temperatures the next day (the 31st) of only 65F and 59F, respectively. The month ended as the second-warmest March ever in Key West.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Key West 74 82 74 82 / 20 20 30 20 Marathon 74 82 74 82 / 30 20 30 20

KEY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

FL...None. GM...Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM EDT Tuesday for GMZ042>044- 052>055-072>075.