Special Marine Warning Issued for Florida Bay and Florida Keys Waters Through 5:00 PM EST

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Key West has issued a Special Marine Warning (SMW) for the Florida Bay and surrounding coastal waters. The alert was issued at 4:02 PM EST following the detection of strong thunderstorms in the region.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad area of marine zones, including:

• Florida Bay, including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and Buttonwood Sound.
• Bayside and Gulfside waters from Craig Key to the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge.
• Hawk Channel from Ocean Reef to the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge out to the reef.
• Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef to the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge out to 20 nautical miles.
• Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef to Craig Key between 20 and 60 nautical miles offshore.

Specific locations identified in the warning include Whale Harbor, Islamorada Hump, Tennessee Reef Light, Twin Keys, Steam Boat Channel, 409 Humps, and Cotton Key.

What You Should Do

Boaters currently in the warning area should seek safe harbor as quickly and safely as possible. If heavy downpours reduce visibility, operators are advised to slow down immediately. Waterspouts can form rapidly and have the potential to capsize vessels, cause considerable damage, and create suddenly higher waves.

Expected Conditions

At 4:02 PM EST, a line of strong thunderstorms was located from Steam Boat Channel to near Conch Reef, moving south at 15 knots. Hazards associated with this system include:

• Possible waterspouts.
• Wind gusts of 34 knots or greater (with potential for gusts exceeding 40 knots).
• Small hail.
• Frequent lightning and heavy downpours.

Timeline

The Special Marine Warning is effective immediately as of 4:02 PM EST and is scheduled to remain in effect until 5:00 PM EST on March 1, 2026.