Thursday, March 19, 2026
⚠️ SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY in effect through this evening. N winds 20–25 kt, seas 5–10 ft coastwide. Stay off the water today.
Conditions Headline
The front that pushed through Monday is still running the show. NOAA AMZ650 issued 4:01 AM this morning: N winds 20–25 kt, seas 5–8 ft at 7 sec period from Jupiter to Deerfield. Buoy 41114 offshore Jupiter confirms 5.2 ft at 7 sec right now. LKWF1 at Lake Worth reads NE 18 kt gusting 23 kt, water temp 74°F.
Key Largo is not the escape today either. Island Ventures canceled their morning tours. Seas around 3 ft in Hawk Channel with a Small Craft Advisory now covering the Straits of Florida. This is the first day this week Key Largo has not offered a window.
Fort Lauderdale to Miami is the roughest zone today. AMZ651 is calling N winds 20–25 kt gusting to 30 kt, seas 7–10 ft occasionally to 13 ft. BHB high tide is 9:10 AM, window 8:40 to 9:40 AM, but viz is still murky from runoff after the rain, expect 10–15 ft at best. Saturday is your first real window as conditions ease Friday night.
Daily Data
Visibility methodology: Offshore sites (Jupiter, Ft. Laud., Miami) baseline 40–80 ft vis, penalized for seas and wave period. Inshore sites (BHB, Palm Beach, Deerfield) baseline 20–50 ft, penalized more aggressively. Key Largo: operator report used directly. Buoy readings are from offshore stations 20–60 nm from shore. Nearshore conditions vary based on vessel type, captain judgment, and site.
Region | Conditions Rating | Vis | Temp | Seas | Wind / Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jupiter / | 🔴 Rough | ~15–25 ft | 70°F | 5.2 ft / 7 sec | N 18–23 kt |
Blue Heron | 🟡 Marginal | ~10–15 ft | ~74°F | Protected | High tide: 9:10 AM |
Palm Beach / | 🔴 Rough | ~15–25 ft | 74°F | 5–8 ft / 7 sec | NE 18 kt gusts 23 kt |
Deerfield / | 🔴 Rough | ~15–25 ft | ~74°F | 5–8 ft / 7 sec | N 20–25 kt |
Fort | 🔴 Rough | ~15–20 ft | 76°F | 3.9 ft / 7 sec | N 20–25 kt gusts 30 kt |
Miami / | 🔴 Rough | ~15–20 ft | ~76°F | 7–10 ft / 8 sec | N 20–25 kt gusts 30 kt |
Key Largo / | 🔴 Rough | Not reported | ~76°F | ~3 ft Hawk Ch. | NE 20–25 kt. Tours canceled. |
Sources: NOAA AMZ650 and AMZ651 issued 4:01 AM EDT Thu Mar 19 2026 (Small Craft Advisory through this evening). Buoy 41114 offshore Jupiter, wave height and water temp observed this morning. Buoy 41122 Hollywood, wave height and water temp observed this morning. Buoy LKWF1 Lake Worth Pier, wind and water temp observed this morning. Island Ventures Key Largo captain log Mar 19 2026. BHB tides: iDiveFlorida Phil Foster Park Mar 19 2026. Vis for all regions predicted from sea state, wind, and wave period model. Buoy data from offshore stations 20–60 nm from shore. Nearshore conditions vary.
Today on the Water — By Activity
Activity | Verdict | Notes |
|---|---|---|
🤿 Scuba Diving | 🔴 Rough | Offshore no-go. BHB marginal window 8:40–9:40 AM only. Key Largo canceled tours. |
🏄 Surfing | 🟡 Marginal | 4–5 ft at 8 sec period. Short period wind swell, choppy and disorganized. Experienced surfers only. |
🚣 Kayak / SUP | 🔴 Rough | Open water not safe today. ICW and protected inlets only. N winds 20–25 kt. |
⛵ Boating / Fishing | 🔴 Rough | Small Craft Advisory in effect through this evening. Stay docked or fish inshore only. |
🏖️ Beach / Swimming | 🟡 Use Caution | Safe to be on the beach. Strong rip current risk with N winds. Do not swim alone. |
Marine Life Sighting Alert
⚪ No new reports today
Island Ventures canceled morning tours so no reef report from Key Largo today. Last confirmed sighting: Eagle Rays at Grecian Rocks, Key Largo, March 18. Narcosis Dive logged reef sharks, a bull shark, Goliath grouper, and a hawksbill turtle on the Palm Beach corridor wrecks on March 15 with 60–100 ft vis and moderate N current. Both sites worth targeting when conditions ease this weekend.
Daily Safety Tip
Today is a full rest day for the water
Every region from Jupiter to Key Largo is running rough. Island Ventures canceling tours in Key Largo tells you everything. The Small Craft Advisory covers the entire South Florida coastline. If you are planning a weekend trip, Saturday is your first real window as conditions ease Friday night. Check tomorrow morning for the weekend outlook. Never go out alone.
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