FXUS62 KKEY 200834 AFDKEY Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Key West FL 434 AM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026 ...New DISCUSSION, MARINE, AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... - Breezy to windy conditions will continue through the afternoon, with a Small Craft Advisory in effect for all Keys coastal waters. - Winds will gradually decrease this afternoon, with light to gentle breezes expected over the weekend. - Drier conditions expected through early next week. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 433 AM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026 A mostly quiet radar has been ongoing overnight for the Florida Keys area with only a few occasional light showers forming over old land breeze boundaries lingering in the Straits of Florida. Nighttime Microphysics depicts mostly clear skies outside of the Upper Keys where light showers are currently present. Temperatures across the island chain are in the upper 60s with dew points in the lower 60s. Along the Reef, current observations recording north to northeast at near 20 knots. Last night's 00z sounding revealed a drier profile has moved in, verified on MIMIC Precipitable water by the large patch of dry air sinking south into the Gulf waters. Therefore, shower activity is expected to be limited throughout the day. Ridging over the western Atlantic will allow for drier conditions and light to gentle breezes making for a really nice upcoming weekend. Chances of rain will return to the forecast mid week as a cold front associated with a short wave trough move through the Southeast. Thereafter, another high will build in promoting another round of breezy and drier conditions. && .MARINE... Issued at 433 AM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026 A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for all Florida Keys waters while fresh to occasionally strong breezes continues. From synopsis, Elongated high pressure over the Eastern Seaboard interacting with a decaying frontal boundary in the Caribbean will maintain fresh to occasionally strong breezes this morning. Breezes will slacken appreciably beginning this afternoon, with light to gentle breezes expected for the weekend into early next week. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 433 AM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026 VFR conditions will prevail at both EYW and MTH through the TAF period. Dry air moving into the area will limit any shower development for the day. Near surface winds through the early morning hours will be northeasterly at 10 to 15 knots with occasional gusts of near 20 knots. Thereafter, winds will start to slacken to near 10 knots through the evening. && .KEY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. GM...Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for GMZ031>035- 042>044-052>055-072>075. && $$ Public/Marine/Fire...AP Aviation/Nowcasts....AP Data Acquisition.....AP Visit us on the web at weather.gov/key Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at: www.facebook.com/nwskeywest www.twitter.com/nwskeywest