Wednesday, March 18, 2026
⚠️ SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY. NE winds 20–25 kt building to 25–30 kt tonight. In effect through Thursday evening. Offshore conditions deteriorate after dark.
Conditions Headline
The NE wind event enters day three and intensifies tonight before easing Thursday. NOAA AMZ650 issued 3:56 AM this morning: NE 20–25 kt with seas 5–8 ft at 8 sec period offshore Jupiter to Deerfield. Buoy 41114 offshore Jupiter is reading 4.3 ft at 5 sec period right now. Short and steep. Lake Worth buoy LKWF1 is logging NE winds at 20 kt gusting 23 kt inshore, water temp 74°F confirmed.
Key Largo is the clear standout today. Island Ventures confirmed this morning: sunny skies, 1–2 ft seas, light current on the outside of Grecian, water temp 76°F, visibility described as really nice, and Eagle Rays sighted again. Dive now. NOAA forecasts conditions building through the afternoon.
Blue Heron Bridge high tide was 8:30 AM this morning. That window has passed. Next high tide is 8:53 PM but the park closes at sunset. BHB is off the table today. Key Largo remains the only clean water. Get there before noon.
Daily Data
Visibility methodology: Offshore sites (Jupiter, Ft. Laud., Miami) baseline 40–80 ft, penalized for seas and wave period. Inshore / nearshore sites (BHB, Palm Beach, Deerfield) baseline 20–50 ft, penalized more aggressively. Key Largo: same-day observed report used directly. Buoy readings are from offshore stations. Nearshore conditions vary based on vessel, captain judgment, and site.
Region | Conditions Rating | Vis | Temp | Seas | Wind / Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jupiter / | 🔴 Rough | ~20–30 ft | 70°F | 4.3 ft / 5 sec | NE 20–25 kt |
Blue Heron | 🟡 Marginal | ~15–25 ft | ~74°F | Protected | High tide: 8:30 AM |
Palm Beach / | 🔴 Rough | ~20–30 ft | 74°F | 5–8 ft / 8 sec | NE 20 kt gusts 23 kt |
Deerfield / | 🔴 Rough | ~20–30 ft | ~74°F | 5–8 ft / 8 sec | NE 20–25 kt |
Fort | 🔴 Rough | ~20–30 ft | ~74°F | 4–6 ft / 7 sec | NE 18–22 kt |
Miami / | 🔴 Rough | ~20–30 ft | ~75°F | 4–6 ft / 7 sec | NE 18–22 kt |
Key Largo / | 🟢 Good | Really nice | 76°F | 1–2 ft Hawk Ch. | Light. Dive before noon. |
Sources: NOAA AMZ650 issued 3:56 AM EDT Wed Mar 18 2026 (Small Craft Advisory through Thu evening). Buoy 41114 offshore Jupiter, wave height and water temp observed 1:26 PM UTC today. Buoy LKWF1 Lake Worth Pier, wind and water temp observed today. Island Ventures Key Largo captain log Mar 18 2026. BHB tides: iDiveFlorida Phil Foster Park Mar 18 2026. Vis for all regions except Key Largo predicted from sea state, wind, and wave period model, not a same-day dive log. Offshore buoy data is from stations 20–60 nm from shore. Nearshore conditions vary.
Marine Life Sighting Alert
🟢 Confirmed : Key Largo, today (Mar 18)
Island Ventures reported Eagle Rays at Grecian Rocks this morning. Sunny skies, 1–2 ft seas, light current, water temp 76°F. Narcosis Dive last logged Palm Beach corridor wrecks on March 15. That trip showed 60–70 ft vis at the corridor wrecks, 100 ft on mid reef, with reef sharks, a bull shark, Goliath grouper, and a hawksbill turtle. Worth the trip when offshore Palm Beach comes back online.
Daily Safety Tip
Wave period matters as much as height
Today's offshore readings are 5–8 ft at 7–8 sec period. Short, steep intervals that create uncomfortable conditions for small vessels. A 5 ft swell at 14 sec is a long rolling wave. A 5 ft swell at 8 sec is a wall of water hitting every few seconds. Tonight NOAA forecasts 25–30 kt with seas building to 6–9 ft. If you're planning anything offshore north of the Keys, check with your captain. That call is theirs. Never dive alone.
Disclaimer: The Florida Flow aggregates publicly available NOAA forecasts, buoy data, and operator logs. Offshore buoy readings are from stations 20–60 nm from shore. Nearshore conditions vary based on vessel type, captain judgment, diver experience, and site. Conditions ratings are informational only and do not account for all factors that determine whether a dive is safe or appropriate. Always verify with your dive operator before entering the water. The Florida Flow is not responsible for decisions made based on this briefing. Never dive alone.
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