Saturday, March 28, 2026
🟢 THIS MORNING IS EXCEPTIONAL. Pre-front NW wind shift has flattened the water. Offshore buoys nearly flat. Best nearshore conditions of the week right now. Get in early.
🔴 THIS IS TEMPORARY. Conditions deteriorate fast this afternoon. Major event tonight through Tuesday. Be out of the water by noon. Rainbow Reef already not running trips. Check with your operator.
Conditions Headline
The buoys this morning tell an interesting story. Buoy 41114 offshore Jupiter is down to just 1.6 ft at 11 sec. Buoy 41122 offshore Fort Lauderdale at 1.3 ft. Lake Worth pier wind has shifted to NW at 6 kt — that is an offshore wind, which is why nearshore water is deceptively calm right now. This is the classic pre-front lull before tonight's event, not a sign the forecast has improved. Do not be fooled by the flat water this morning.
Saturday morning is the last viable window before the front arrives. Get in the water early and be back by noon. BHB high tide today is 5:46 PM, light green, window 5:16 to 6:16 PM. That window is late enough that conditions will already be building — a morning nearshore dive will be better than waiting for the afternoon tide window today. BHB viz has been recovering since Thursday's post-front low of roughly 5 ft. Expecting 20-30 ft today.
Narcosis dove Flower Garden and Divaroma in Palm Beach yesterday — 40-50 ft and 50-60 ft vis, 75°F, two lemon sharks, a loggerhead turtle, one nurse shark, green morays, and a resident grouper named Jasper who followed the group on the second dive. Captain Hook's confirmed Looe Key at 45-50 ft yesterday morning, dropping to 3-4 ft sloppy seas by afternoon. Rainbow Reef is posting no reports for the last 48 hours due to weather. They are already sitting this weekend out.Daily Data
Data sourcing: All sea heights from NOAA buoys located 20-60 nm offshore. Nearshore conditions will be smaller. This morning's flat buoy readings reflect a temporary pre-front NW wind shift, not improved conditions. Offshore seas will build significantly from this afternoon onward. Always verify with your operator before heading out.
Region | Conditions Rating | Vis | Temp | Seas | Wind / Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Space Coast (Cocoa Beach / Sebastian) | 🟡 AM Only | ~30-45 ft | ~74°F | ~2 ft nearshore AM | NW winds this morning, nearshore calm. Deteriorates this afternoon. Go early or stay in. |
Jupiter / Tequesta | 🟡 AM Only | ~35-50 ft | 76°F | 1.6 ft offshore buoy AM | NW 6 kt offshore. Pre-front lull. Offshore buoy 1.6 ft but building fast this afternoon. Morning window only. |
Blue Heron Bridge | 🟡 Marginal | ~20-30 ft recovering | ~78°F | Protected | High tide 5:46 PM, tide window 5:16-6:16 PM (light green). Viz recovering post-front. Morning nearshore window better than afternoon tide window given building conditions. |
Palm Beach / Singer Is. | 🟡 AM Only | ~35-50 ft | 78°F | ~1-2 ft nearshore AM | Narcosis confirmed 40-60 ft vis yesterday with lemon sharks and loggerhead. Pre-front calm this morning. Moderate rip current risk. Builds fast this afternoon. |
Deerfield / Pompano | 🟡 AM Only | ~40-55 ft | ~78°F | ~1-2 ft nearshore AM | Pre-front calm. Fort Laud offshore buoy 1.3 ft right now. Morning only before conditions build. |
Fort Lauderdale | 🟡 AM Only | ~40-55 ft | 78°F | 1.3 ft offshore buoy AM | NW winds, offshore buoy nearly flat. Deceptive. Seas build fast from this afternoon. Morning only. |
Miami / Key Biscayne | 🟡 AM Only | ~40-55 ft | ~78°F | ~1-2 ft nearshore AM | Pre-front calm. Go this morning, not this afternoon. |
Key Largo / Upper Keys | 🟡 Marginal | 30-50 ft confirmed | 76-77°F | 2-3 ft AM, building PM | Looe Key 45-50 ft AM yesterday, seas building to 3-4 ft sloppy by PM. Coffins Patch 30 ft, greenish water. Rainbow Reef not running trips last 48 hours. Check with your operator. |
Sources: NOAA AMZ650 issued 4:01 PM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026. Buoy 41114 offshore Jupiter observed 12:26 UTC Mar 28. Buoy 41122 Hollywood observed 12:00 UTC Mar 28. Buoy LKWF1 Lake Worth Pier observed 12:00 UTC Mar 28. Narcosis Dive Palm Beach confirmed Mar 27 2026. Captain Hook's confirmed Mar 27 2026: Looe Key Ball 11 10:08 AM, Looe Key 10:17 AM and 2:37 PM, Coffins Patch 10:26 AM and 2:03 PM. Rainbow Reef Key Largo: no reports last 48 hours due to weather. BHB tides: iDiveFlorida Phil Foster Park Mar 28 2026.
Today on the Water — By Activity
Activity | Verdict | Notes |
|---|---|---|
🤿 Scuba Diving | 🟡 Morning Only | Pre-front calm makes nearshore diveable this morning. Palm Beach was excellent yesterday — two lemon sharks, loggerhead, nurse shark, 40-60 ft vis. BHB recovering, 20-30 ft expected. Keys marginal, check with your operator. Rainbow Reef already sitting out. Be out of the water by noon. |
🏄 Surfing | 🟡 Morning Only | 2-3 ft this morning with cross-shore NW winds. Building fast by afternoon to 15-18 mph NE onshore. Check SurfGuru or Surfline for your break. Sunday 8-9 ft with 26 mph ENE onshore all day. Massive but rip current risk will be extreme. Experienced only Sunday. |
🚣 Kayak / SUP | 🟡 ICW Only | ICW and inshore flat this morning. Stay inshore today. Open ocean not recommended even this morning given how fast conditions will build this afternoon. |
⛵ Boating / Fishing | 🟡 Marginal | Nearshore flat this morning due to pre-front NW wind shift. Inshore fishing fine all day. Nearshore viable this morning only — be back at the dock before noon. Check with your captain before any offshore plans this weekend. |
🏖️ Beach / Swimming | 🟡 Use Caution | Beautiful morning on the beach. Rip current risk increases significantly this afternoon as onshore winds build. Swim near a lifeguard. By Sunday rip current risk will be extreme across all Atlantic beaches. |
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⚠️ Weekend and Week Outlook
Today Saturday morning 🟡: Pre-front calm. Nearly flat nearshore. Go early, be back by noon.
Saturday afternoon 🔴: NE winds building to 10-15 kt. Nearshore seas increasing. Head in.
Tonight 🔴: NE 15-20 kt building to E 20-25 kt after midnight. Nearshore seas 5-7 ft, occasionally 9 ft. Stay off the water.
Sunday 🔴: E 25-30 kt. Nearshore Palm Beach 8-11 ft, offshore higher. Showers and possible thunderstorms. Check with your captain.
Monday 🔴: E 20-25 kt. Offshore 7-10 ft, occasionally 13 ft. Still rough.
Tuesday 🔴: E 20-25 kt. Offshore 5-7 ft, occasionally 9 ft. Improving but still rough offshore.
All sea heights from NOAA buoys 20-60 nm offshore. Nearshore conditions will be smaller. Always check with your captain.
Marine Life Sighting Alert
🟢 CONFIRMED — Palm Beach, March 27
Narcosis Dive: Flower Garden 40-50 ft vis, Divaroma 50-60 ft vis. 75°F, 1-2 ft seas, sunny. Two lemon sharks, one loggerhead turtle, one nurse shark, two green morays, and resident grouper Jasper followed the group on the second dive. Captain Hook's Looe Key: 45-50 ft vis AM, 77°F. Conditions deteriorated to 3-4 ft sloppy seas by afternoon PM.
Daily Safety Tip
Do not be fooled by this morning's calm water
The NW wind shift overnight has temporarily flattened the nearshore water. This is a classic pre-front lull and it will not last. NOAA has not changed the forecast. NE winds start building this afternoon, seas build tonight, and by Sunday nearshore Palm Beach is looking at 8-11 ft with E 25-30 kt. If you go out this morning, set a hard turnaround time and stick to it. Always file a float plan and never go out alone. Check with your captain before any offshore plans this weekend.
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Disclaimer: The Florida Flow aggregates publicly available NOAA forecasts, buoy data, and operator logs. All sea heights cited are from NOAA buoys 20-60 nm offshore. Nearshore conditions will be smaller. Conditions ratings are informational only. Always verify with your operator or captain before heading out. The Florida Flow is not responsible for decisions made based on this briefing. Never go out alone.
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