Clean Weekend Window Before Monday's Cold Front — The Florida Flow
Seas 2–3 ft and winds easing through the weekend, with Friday and Saturday shaping up as the best offshore window of the stretch. A cold front arrives Monday with gusts to 23 kt and rain. Use the next 48 hours — here's what the buoys show.
Buoys this morning show manageable conditions from the Space Coast to the Keys. Buoy 41009 (20 nm offshore, Space Coast) is reading seas of 3.6 ft at a long 9-second period and wind at 9.7 kt SE, putting the offshore corridor at the upper end of marginal. Closer in, buoy 41114 (6.5 nm offshore, Treasure Coast) shows 3.0 ft at 10 seconds with water at 77.7°F, still long-period swell, which penetrates the water column more than short chop and can reduce visibility even at moderate heights. Farther south, buoy 41122 (23 nm offshore, covering Deerfield through Miami) reads 2.3 ft at just 5 seconds and 77.7°F. That short-period chop stays near the surface and affects bottom conditions less. The Blue Heron Bridge sensor (LKWF1) shows 8.0 kt ESE and 77.0°F water right now.
The NWS marine forecast for Jupiter Inlet to Deerfield Beach calls for E winds 10-15 kt today with seas 2-3 ft, easing to around 2 ft tonight. Friday looks even calmer with NE winds dropping to 5-10 kt and seas near 2 ft. The Gulf Stream wall sits 3 nautical miles east-northeast of Lake Worth and 7 nm south-southeast of Port Everglades today, no Gulf Stream hazards are listed. The larger story is early next week: the NWS is flagging a potential cold front with breezy, hazardous conditions possible. Open-Meteo confirms this with winds building to 17 kt gusting 23 kt and a 22% rain chance with 4.8 mm of rain forecast Monday, April 20. Plan your offshore trips Thursday through Saturday and watch the Monday forecast closely.
At Blue Heron Bridge today, the morning high tide peaks at 2.8 ft at 7:53 AM, giving a fair dive window from 7:23 AM to 8:23 AM. The evening high tide reaches 3.2 ft at 8:27 PM with a fair window from 7:57 PM to 8:57 PM. Tomorrow's morning window improves slightly, rated good, with a 2.8 ft high at 8:38 AM and a window from 8:08 AM to 9:08 AM. Port Everglades current is running a light 0.41 kt northward. UV today is 9, a Very High Alert, so sun protection is essential on any topside time.
Check live conditions at thefloridaflow.com — buoys, tides, dive windows, UV. Updated hourly.
Regional Conditions
| Region | Conditions | Vis (est.) | Seas | Wind | Water Temp | Buoy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Space Coast (Cocoa/Sebastian) |
Marginal OBSERVED | 10-30 ft PREDICTED Long period (9s) reduces vis one tier |
3.6 ft, 9s OBSERVED | 9.7 kt SE OBSERVED | N/A | 41009 20 nm offshore |
| Treasure Coast (Vero/Ft. Pierce) |
Marginal OBSERVED | 10-30 ft PREDICTED Long period (10s) reduces vis one tier |
3.0 ft, 10s OBSERVED | N/A | 77.7°F OBSERVED | 41114 6.5 nm offshore |
| Blue Heron Bridge (Palm Beach) |
Good OBSERVED | Tidal 5-20 ft PREDICTED | Tidal site | 8.0 kt ESE OBSERVED | 77.0°F OBSERVED | LKWF1 Nearshore |
| Deerfield/Pompano to Miami |
Good OBSERVED | 20-50 ft PREDICTED Short period (5s), surface chop, bottom less affected |
2.3 ft, 5s OBSERVED | N/A | 77.7°F OBSERVED | 41122 23 nm offshore |
| Key Largo / Upper Keys | No Coverage | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | MLRF1 decommissioned Feb 2023, no replacement |
| Marathon / Middle Keys | Marginal OBSERVED | 10-30 ft PREDICTED | N/A | 13.0 kt E OBSERVED | N/A | SMKF1 1 nm offshore |
| Key West / Lower Keys | Marginal OBSERVED | 10-30 ft PREDICTED | 3.0 ft, 5s OBSERVED | N/A | 79.0°F OBSERVED | 42095 15 nm offshore |
| Palm Beach / Singer Is. | Good OBSERVED | Tidal 5-20 ft PREDICTED | N/A | 8.0 kt ESE OBSERVED | 77.0°F OBSERVED | LKWF1 Nearshore |
Sources: Space Coast/Sebastian from buoy 41009 (20 nm offshore). Treasure Coast from buoy 41114 (6.5 nm offshore). Deerfield/Pompano/Fort Lauderdale/Miami from buoy 41122 (23 nm offshore). Blue Heron Bridge and Palm Beach from buoy LKWF1 (nearshore). Marathon from buoy SMKF1 (1 nm offshore). Key West from buoy 42095 (15 nm offshore). Upper Keys: no buoy coverage since MLRF1 decommissioned Feb 2023. NWS zone AMZ650-670. BHB tide windows from iDiveFlorida. UV from Open-Meteo. Offshore buoy readings are not the same as nearshore. Confirm with your captain.
Activity Conditions
| Activity | Verdict | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🤿 Scuba | Marginal | Offshore seas 2-3.6 ft with long-period swell (9-10s) on the Treasure and Space coasts will stir bottom sediment and reduce vis to the 10-30 ft range at those sites. South Florida nearshore sites with short-period chop should see 20-50 ft. Narcosis Dive reported 30-40 ft actual vis in West Palm Beach on April 15. BHB tide windows are fair this morning. Always verify with your operator. |
| 🏄 Surfing | Marginal | Swell 2-3 ft with an onshore ESE wind at 8-10 kt caps the rating at Marginal. The 9-10s period on the Space and Treasure coasts offers some shape but onshore flow will texture the face. Friday looks cleaner as winds back to NE 5-10 kt. Verify with your operator. |
| 🚣 Kayak / SUP | Good | Intracoastal and protected waters are showing a moderate chop per NWS, but winds at 8-10 kt are manageable for experienced paddlers. Stick to the ICW and lagoons rather than the open ocean. Verify with your operator. |
| ⛵ Boating / Fishing | Marginal | E winds 10-15 kt with seas 2-3 ft offshore today. The Gulf Stream sits close, 3-7 nm offshore depending on your port. Friday improves with NE winds 5-10 kt and seas around 2 ft. Monday is the concern: 17 kt gusting 23 kt and 4.8 mm rain forecast with a cold front. Plan your offshore run for Friday or Saturday. Verify with your captain. |
| 🏖️ Beach | Good | Partly cloudy, light wind, no rain expected today. UV is 9 (Very High Alert) so sunscreen and shade breaks are essential. Water at 77°F is comfortable. Verify conditions on arrival. |
🏖️ Weekend Beach Report
Water temp: 77°F, warm and comfortable for swimming.
Sea state: Mild chop. Waves 2-3 ft offshore, likely smaller at the beach. Not rough, but not flat.
Rip current risk: Elevated. Wave heights of 2-3 ft with onshore E wind can increase rip current activity. Swim near a lifeguard stand.
Flag estimate: Expect yellow flags (estimate based on NOAA data, check posted flags on arrival).
Best time: Morning through midday before any afternoon sea breeze fills in. Sunday has a drizzle chance, Saturday is the cleaner beach day.
Conditions change, always check posted flags and swim near a lifeguard.
Blue Heron Bridge Dive Windows
Today, Thursday April 16:
Morning high: 2.8 ft at 7:53 AM. Window: 7:23 AM to 8:23 AM. Rating: Fair.
Evening high: 3.2 ft at 8:27 PM. Window: 7:57 PM to 8:57 PM. Rating: Fair.
Tomorrow, Friday April 17:
Morning high: 2.8 ft at 8:38 AM. Window: 8:08 AM to 9:08 AM. Rating: Good.
Evening high: 3.4 ft at 9:16 PM. Window: 8:46 PM to 9:46 PM. Rating: Fair.
Marine Life Sightings
Narcosis Dive, West Palm Beach (April 15, 2026): Visibility 30-40 ft, water 76°F, mild northerly current, waves 2-3 ft. Operator reported: two lemon sharks, a large loggerhead turtle, tropical fish, and a green moray eel. OBSERVED
Rainbow Reef, Key Largo: No conditions report received for Thursday, April 16.
7-Day Outlook
Thu Apr 16 🟢: Partly cloudy. Wind max 9 kt, gusts 12 kt. 4% rain chance. Good nearshore, marginal offshore with long-period swell remaining.
Fri Apr 17 🟢: Partly cloudy. Wind max 11 kt, gusts 12 kt. 1% rain chance. NWS shows NE 5-10 kt, seas near 2 ft. Best day of the stretch for offshore.
Sat Apr 18 🟢: Partly cloudy. Wind max 9 kt, gusts 12 kt. 2% rain chance. Calm and clean.
Sun Apr 19 🟡: Drizzle possible. Wind max 11 kt, gusts 12 kt. 7% rain chance, 0.3 mm. Conditions still manageable but a slight uptick in rain activity.
Mon Apr 20 🔴: Drizzle, cold front approaching. Wind max 17 kt, gusts 23 kt. 22% rain chance, 4.8 mm. NWS warns of breezy, hazardous conditions. Hold offshore trips. Monitor updated forecasts.
Offshore heights from buoys 20-60 nm. Nearshore typically smaller. Check with your operator.
Safety Tip
Long-period swell stirs more than it looks. The 9-10s swell running on the Space and Treasure coasts today may not look threatening from the beach, but long-period energy reaches the seafloor and reduces visibility far more than short-period chop of the same height. Divers and snorkelers should check in with their operator on actual vis conditions before entering the water. Short choppy seas at 5s or less (like those south of Palm Beach today) stay near the surface and are less likely to cloud deep water.
A cold front is also expected Monday: if you are planning a multi-day boating trip, have a plan to shelter before conditions deteriorate. Gusts to 23 kt with rain and building seas are forecast.
Sun and UV
| Sunrise | Morning Golden Hour | Evening Golden Hour | Sunset | UV Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | 7:00 AM to 7:45 AM | 6:54 PM to 7:39 PM | 7:39 PM | 9 — Very High (UV Alert). Wear SPF 30+, reapply every 90 min on the water. |
Quick Poll
Which is your main concern about the cold front arriving Monday?
A) Rough seas and swell offshore
B) Rain canceling my dive or fishing plans
C) Reduced visibility for diving after the front
D) Not concerned, I am staying inshore
Tap to reply. We read every response.
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The Florida Flow aggregates NOAA data. Offshore heights from buoys 20-60 nm. Nearshore varies. Conditions can change rapidly. Confirm with your captain. Use at your own risk.