textproduct: Key West

KEY MESSAGES

- A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for the SE Gulf Waters and the Straits of Florida. Small Craft Should Exercise Caution until winds decrease and seas subside across Hawk Channel and the Bay and Gulfside waters.

- Cool north to northeasterly breezes will continue with daytime highs only reaching the mid 60s today.

- Nil rain chances are expected for the next several days as dry air remains entrenched across the Keys.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1003 AM EST Fri Feb 6 2026 Cool and dry conditions have continued through the early morning along the Florida Keys. Automated observations have reported early morning low temperatures were anywhere from near 50F in the Upper Keys to the upper 50s in the Lower Keys, and the chill was very noticeable due to accompanying dewpoints in the 40s. Even though our current temperatures are ranging from the mid 50s to near 60F, there is plenty of sunshine available to help cut some of that chill for those of us well-adapted to the usual Florida warmth. Visible satellite imagery shows a field of fair weather cumulus clouds to the west of the island chain, but the deep northwesterly flow has put the Keys in the shadow of the peninsula, thus keeping our skies directly overhead virtually cloud-free. The 12Z sounding from this morning calculated half of an inch of precipitable waters, and most of that water in the column is in the lowest levels up to approximately 850 mb, where the cumulus field is sitting. Above that, the air mass is significantly dry, so this should keep our forecast area free of showers. The forecast is unfolding as expected, and no changes are needed with this morning update.

MARINE

Issued at 1003 AM EST Fri Feb 6 2026 Generally moderate breezes will continue this morning in the wake of a recent cold frontal passage. As the front continues to push away from the Florida Keys today, breezes will somewhat slacken, although marine conditions will remain hazardous. An area of high pressure will build across the Mid- Atlantic over the weekend, supporting moderate northwest breezes. As the high slides southeastward late Sunday through early next week, breezes will slacken and clock around to the northeast.

AVIATION

(15Z TAFS) Issued at 1003 AM EST Fri Feb 6 2026 VFR conditions will prevail at both terminals through the TAF period. Nearby SCT to BKN decks are around FL040, but the northwesterly flow aloft should help to keep this cloud field away from both terminals. Surface winds at the beginning of the period will gradually back from the north to northwest, but crosswind concerns are low as sustained winds are near 10 knots with only occasional gusts of 15 to 20 knots.

CLIMATE

On this day in 1966, the daily record low temperature of 49F was recorded in Key West. Temperature records for Key West date back to 1872.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Key West 66 59 72 59 / 0 0 0 0 Marathon 64 57 72 57 / 0 0 0 0

KEY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

FL...None. GM...Small Craft Advisory until 5 PM EST this afternoon for GMZ033- 034-052>055-072>075.