Coastal Waters Forecast for Florida

National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL

Gulf coastal waters from Bonita Beach to the mouth of the Suwannee River out to 60 NM. Important notice to mariners.marine forecasts are issued at least four times a day. Boaters on extended trips should routinely monitor subsequent forecast issuances and updates for the latest marine weather information. The wave heights are forecast as significant wave height which is the average of the highest one-third of the waves. The highest waves may rarely be twice the significant wave height. The winds and seas near thunderstorms may be higher than forecast. A frontal boundary will move through the Gulf waters tonight into Sunday with east-northeast winds increasing in the wake of this feature as high pressure builds in from the north. Winds may reach SCEC conditions for northern marine zones tonight with wind speeds increasing further into Sunday around 15 kts or more for central/northern waters where SCEC conditions will remain possible at times, but winds will be less for southern waters at around 10 kts. The pressure gradient is expected to strengthen further by the end of the weekend and early next week and eventual small craft advisory headlines could possibly be needed. In addition, scattered showers and thunderstorms will remain possible through the remainder of the weekend but drier air will limit rain chances into next week.