Windy conditions, small craft advisory continue across Florida Keys coastal waters

Boaters, anglers and ferry operators across the Florida Keys had to keep plans flexible as the National Weather Service in Key West kept a Small Craft Advisory in effect for all coastal waters, with northeast to east winds near 15 to 20 mph and seas running 5 to 7 feet in the Florida Straits.

The advisory covered the island chain from the Upper Keys through Hawk Channel and Florida Bay, with conditions rough enough that the Weather Service said inexperienced mariners and operators of smaller vessels should avoid heading out. Winds were near 20 knots, and the agency warned that the combination of fresh breezes and choppy seas was hazardous for small craft.

The Weather Service said the breezy to windy pattern was expected to persist for several more days and into the start of next week. Its forecast called for mostly sunny skies, a slight chance of showers, highs near 80 in the lower 80s, and lows in the lower 70s, with the chance of rain around 20 percent. Even with a few passing showers possible, dry air was moving in and shower coverage was expected to fall off, leaving little to no rain to interrupt the dry stretch.

That dry pattern matters beyond the marine forecast. The Weather Service said continued low rainfall was supporting moderate drought conditions across the Keys, and that little to no rain was expected to dent those conditions over the next week. For Monroe County, that meant the same stiff breeze that kept the water rough also helped dry out the island chain after a stretch of limited rainfall.

The marine discussion said a pronounced wind surge moved over the northern Florida Keys coastal waters late last night, causing Small Craft Advisory conditions to develop early. The present flow was producing fresh to strong easterly breezes across the island chain, and that setup was expected to hold through the weekend.

The Upper Keys also had a Coastal Flood Statement in effect because of a strong northeast swell. With wind, wave action and elevated water pushing in from the Atlantic side, the most immediate impact tonight and tomorrow was on people trying to get on the water, not just those watching from shore.