textproduct: Key West

KEY MESSAGES

- Major coastal flooding will continue over all the Florida Keys for the next few tidal cycles. Relief from the coastal flooding is expected to begin later this week when tides start to subside.

- A Gale Warning is in effect for much of the Straits of Florida and eastern Hawk Channel through this morning. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for the remaining Florida Keys coastal waters into tonight. - Fast-moving scattered showers will continue to move through the Keys through tonight. Any of this activity will be capable of producing stronger wind gusts.

SHORT TERM FORECAST

The high over the eastern United States will continue to weaken slightly today which will allow for the low pressure festering near the Bahamas for the last several days to finally drift westward. Therefore, windy conditions are expected to continue into this evening before slackening from east to west as the low nears the Keys. As this happens, the ribbon of stronger winds and pressure gradient will lift north of the area. In addition, the moisture is expected to remain quite deep across eastern portions of the area with showers expected to continue today and tonight. However, this may start to drift to the northwest as the low slowly presses westward which may bring a better chance for seeing a shower across the Middle and Lower Keys and the nearshore and offshore waters to the north.

MARINE

Issued at 523 AM EDT Tue Oct 27 2026 A Gale Warning remains in effect through 11 AM EDT this morning for much of the Straits of Florida and eastern Hawk Channel. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for the far western Straits, SE Gulf waters, Florida Bay, the Bayside/Gulfside waters, and western and central Hawk Channel. A Small Craft Advisory is then in effect for all the Florida Keys coastal waters beginning 11 AM EDT this morning continuing into tonight. From synopsis, sprawling high pressure over the eastern United States will be reinforced by a secondary high north of the Dakotas. As these features interact with a persistent low south of the Bahamas, this will sustain frequent near gale gusts through this morning, especially across the Straits of Florida, and extreme eastern Hawk Channel. In addition, pulses of low level moisture will support elevated shower chances, mainly in the eastern marine zones. The secondary high will slide into the central North Atlantic for the middle to latter part of the work week, supporting slackening northeast to east breezes.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 523 AM EDT Tue Oct 27 2026 VFR conditions will largely prevail at both EYW and MTH terminals through the TAF period. However, there may be occasional periods of MVFR CIGs this morning. SHRA continues across the Straits of Florida this morning, though, most of this activity remains displaced to the south of either terminal. Therefore, VCSH is not included in the TAF at this time. Near surface winds will continue to remain north to northeast through the period with frequent gusts of 20 to 25 knots, occasionally a few may approach 27 to 28 knots, especially this morning.

CLIMATE

On this day in 1890, the daily record cold high temperature of 70F was recorded in Key West. This is also tied for the coldest high temperature ever recorded in October. Temperature records for Key West date back to 1872.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Key West 83 76 85 78 / 30 30 30 20 Marathon 82 76 84 77 / 30 30 30 20

KEY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

FL...Coastal Flood Warning until 5 AM EDT Wednesday for FLZ076>078.

GM...Small Craft Advisory until 11 PM EDT this evening for GMZ031>035- 043-044-055-075.

Gale Warning until 11 AM EDT this morning for GMZ042-052>054- 072>074.

Small Craft Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 11 PM EDT this evening for GMZ042-052>054-072>074.