291 FXUS62 KKEY 271844 AFDKEY Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Key West FL 244 PM EDT Sat Apr 27 2024 ...New DISCUSSION, MARINE, AVIATION... .DISCUSSION... Issued at 245 PM EDT Sat Apr 27 2024 It has been a windy day across the Florida Keys with these conditions continuing. KBYX radar has also been detecting isolated fast-moving showers moving from east to west at 20 to 25 knots through the Florida Keys in the easterly flow. Occasionally, a few of these showers have crossed the Island Chain bringing a few hundreths of an inch to a few island communities as estimated from MRMS (Multi- Radar/Multi- Sensor data). Temperatures along the Island Chain are in the lower to mid 80s with the Big Pine Key RAWS coming in at 88 degrees so far this afternoon. Dew points are near 70 degrees. Sprawling surface high pressure currently centered just southeast of New England continues to dive southward moving further into the Atlantic this afternoon. As a result, marine platforms throughout the Keys are observing east winds near 20 knots with occasional gusts as high as 30 knots with Island Chain communities observing near 20 mph with gusts as high as 30 mph occasionally. .FORECAST... Strong high pressure off the New England coast is expected to continue moving southward through the remainder of the weekend and into early next week before stalling just north of the Bahamas. As it does so, it is expected to slowly weaken. Therefore, since this will be the main driver for our weather the next several days, expect the windy conditions to continue with the peak of the current wind surge occurring this evening through around midnight before the breezes begin to only slowly slacken. Windy conditions are expected to continue for Island Chain communities through Sunday evening/night before becoming breezy heading into Monday morning. Breezes will continue to further slacken early next week as the high continues to weaken. Slight chances of showers was maintained for tonight with Sunday being increased to 20%. For Sunday night, 20% was maintained. Model guidance is showing an increase in the 850 mb moisture for Sunday and Sunday night resulting in potentially a better chance for slightly more widespread showers during this time compared to today. Early next week, drier air begins to filter back in resulting in 10% being maintained during this time frame. Heading into mid to late week, the aforementioned high pressure is expected to retreat eastward further into the Atlantic. This will result in mainly easterly flow continuing with lower level moisture becoming slightly more scarce than over this weekend and early next week. As a result, slight chance (10%) was maintained through the period. && .MARINE... Issued at 245 PM EDT Sat Apr 27 2024 A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for all the Florida Keys coastal waters. From synopsis, high pressure centered just southeast of the New England coast will continue diving southward further into the western North Atlantic through the remainder of the weekend. Easterly breezes will freshen further this evening, with strong breezes expected through at least Sunday. As the high weakens somewhat south of Bermuda early next week, breezes will slacken, although occasionally fresh breezes will continue through the first half of the week. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 245 PM EDT Sat Apr 27 2024 Despite drive-by, fast-moving light showers through the late afternoon hours, VFR conditions will prevail at the island terminals. Near-surface winds will remain sustained from the east at 15 to 20 knots, with occasional gusts to near 25 knots, especially in the vicinity of the passing showers. && .CLIMATE... On this date in Keys Weather History, in 2003, a severe thunderstorm produced a 53 mph gust and 1/2" to 1&3/4" hail over the entire island of Key West for about 10 minutes. This was the largest hail ever recorded in Key West, and tied the largest ever in Monroe County. And in 1980, hail smaller than 3/4" fell in Key West and an F2 tornado hit Cudjoe Key and/or Ramrod Key, resulting In 10 injuries and $250k in damage. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Key West 75 83 75 83 / 10 20 20 10 Marathon 75 83 75 84 / 10 20 20 10 && .KEY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. GM...Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM EDT Sunday for GMZ031>035- 042>044-052>055-072>075. && $$ Public/Marine/Fire...MJV Aviation/Nowcasts....BT Data Acquisition.....DR Visit us on the web at weather.gov/key Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at: www.facebook.com/nwskeywest www.twitter.com/nwskeywest