The Florida Flow - April 4th
Rough conditions across the board today. Space Coast buoy 41009 (20 nm out) is at 5.6 ft, 8-second period, ESE winds 11.7 kt. Keys showing 4.9 ft at 77°F. An NWS-confirmed thunderstorm is moving northwest near Sand Cut at 25 kt.
Buoy 41009, sitting 20 nautical miles off Space Coast, is reading 5.6-foot seas at an 8-second period with winds at 11.7 knots out of the ESE. That is a rough offshore picture for Cocoa Beach and Sebastian. Closer in toward Vero Beach and Fort Pierce, buoy 41114 at 6.5 nm offshore is showing 4.9-foot seas on a short 6-second period with water at 75.4 degrees. From Palm Beach down through Miami, buoy 41122 at 23 nm offshore is reporting 3.9-foot seas on a 6-second period with water temps holding around 77 degrees. Wind at Blue Heron Bridge and Singer Island is out of the east at 14 knots per buoy LKWF1. Marathon is seeing east winds at 18.1 knots per buoy SMKF1 just 1 nm offshore. Key West and the Lower Keys show 4.9-foot seas at a 7-second period from buoy 42095 at 15 nm out, with water at 77.2 degrees.
A strong thunderstorm was confirmed by Doppler radar over the waters near Sand Cut this afternoon, moving northwest at 25 knots and capable of producing winds to 30 knots with locally elevated waves. That storm is the headline hazard today. Beyond that active cell, persistent east and ESE winds are keeping seas elevated across all regions, with short 6-second periods indicating choppy, close-together wave action rather than clean long-interval swell. Conditions favor caution on the water today, particularly offshore.
Blue Heron Bridge has two tidal windows today. The morning window opens at 9:59 AM and runs to 10:59 AM, centered on a 2.4-foot high tide at 10:29 AM, rated optimal. The late-night window centers on an 11:03 PM high at 2.9 feet, rated fair, running 10:33 PM to 11:33 PM. Tomorrow morning looks slightly better with a 2.3-foot high at 11:06 AM and an optimal window from 10:36 AM to 11:36 AM.
Check live conditions at thefloridaflow.com -- buoys, tides, dive windows, UV. Updated hourly.
Regional Conditions
| Region | Conditions | Vis | Seas | Wind | Water Temp | Buoy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Space Coast Cocoa Beach / Sebastian |
ROUGH | Under 10 ftPREDICTED | 5.6 ft, 8sOBSERVED | 11.7 kt ESEOBSERVED | -- | 41009 (20 nm) |
| Treasure Coast Vero / Ft Pierce |
CHOPPY | 5-15 ftPREDICTED | 4.9 ft, 6sOBSERVED | -- | 75.4 FOBSERVED | 41114 (6.5 nm) |
| Blue Heron Bridge / Palm Beach / Singer Is. | CHOPPY | Tidal 5-20 ftPREDICTED | -- | 14.0 kt EOBSERVED | 76.8 FOBSERVED | LKWF1 |
| Deerfield / Pompano / Fort Lauderdale / Miami | CHOPPY | 5-15 ftPREDICTED | 3.9 ft, 6sOBSERVED | -- | 77.4 FOBSERVED | 41122 (23 nm) |
| Key Largo / Upper Keys | NO COVERAGE | -- | -- | -- | -- | MLRF1 decommissioned Feb 2023, no replacement |
| Marathon / Middle Keys | CHOPPY | 5-15 ftPREDICTED | -- | 18.1 kt EOBSERVED | -- | SMKF1 (1 nm) |
| Key West / Lower Keys | CHOPPY | 5-15 ftPREDICTED | 4.9 ft, 7sOBSERVED | -- | 77.2 FOBSERVED | 42095 (15 nm) |
| Port Everglades | CALM | -- | -- | 0.17 kt NE currentOBSERVED | -- | Port Everglades current sensor |
Sources: Space Coast seas from buoy 41009 (NOAA), 20 nm offshore Cocoa Beach. Treasure Coast seas from buoy 41114 (NOAA), 6.5 nm offshore Fort Pierce. Palm Beach wind and water temp from buoy LKWF1 (NOAA). South Florida seas from buoy 41122 (NOAA), 23 nm offshore Pompano. Marathon wind from buoy SMKF1 (NOAA), 1 nm offshore. Key West seas from buoy 42095 (NOAA), 15 nm offshore. NWS marine zones used for forecast context. BHB tide windows sourced from iDiveFlorida. UV index from Open-Meteo. Key Largo and Upper Keys: buoy MLRF1 was decommissioned February 2023 and has not been replaced. No buoy coverage exists for that region. Offshore buoy readings are not the same as nearshore. Confirm with your captain.
Activity Snapshot
| Activity | Verdict | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🤿 Scuba | CHOPPY | 3.9 to 5.6 ft offshore seas with short 6-8 second periods will make entry and surface intervals uncomfortable. BHB is protected and tidal. Narcosis Dive reported 50-60 ft viz on April 1 from West Palm. Verify with your operator. |
| 🏄 Surfing | CHOPPY | Space Coast has the most size at 5.6 ft from buoy 41009 at 20 nm, but the 8-second period is mid-range. ESE wind at 11.7 kt is slightly onshore and will affect face quality. Closer to shore, waves will be smaller. Verify with your operator. |
| 🚣 Kayak / SUP | ROUGH | East winds at 14 to 18 kt across most regions make open-water paddling difficult and potentially unsafe. Stick to protected inlets, lagoons, or canals today. Active thunderstorm advisory adds further risk. Verify with your operator. |
| ⛵ Boating / Fishing | ROUGH | NWS has issued an active statement for a strong thunderstorm capable of 30-knot gusts. Combined with 4 to 5.6 ft offshore seas and 6-8 second periods, offshore boating is not recommended today. Boaters already out should seek safe harbor. Verify with your operator. |
| 🏖️ Beach | MARGINAL | UV is at 8 (Very High) with a UV Alert in effect -- sun protection is essential. East winds at 14-18 kt will be noticeable on the sand. The active thunderstorm statement means conditions can change fast. Monitor the sky and have an exit plan. Verify with your operator. |
Blue Heron Bridge Dive Windows
Night (Fair): High tide 11:03 PM at 2.9 ft. Window open 10:33 PM to 11:33 PM. Slightly larger tide but rated fair.
Sunday, April 5, 2026 Morning (Optimal): High tide 11:06 AM at 2.3 ft. Window open 10:36 AM to 11:36 AM.
Night (Fair): High tide 11:42 PM at 2.8 ft. Window open 11:12 PM to 12:12 AM.
BHB visibility is tidal and site-specific. Wind at 14 kt E from buoy LKWF1 is onshore and may stir up sediment near the bridge. Arrive within the window. Tide windows sourced from iDiveFlorida.
Marine Life Sightings
Rainbow Reef (Key Largo) -- Saturday, April 4, 2026: No sighting data available from Rainbow Reef for today's issue.
Week Outlook
Sunday 4/5 🟡: No new advisory data in hand. Persistent east wind pattern likely continues based on current setup. Expect lingering chop. BHB morning window looks solid at 10:36-11:36 AM.
Monday 4/6 🟡: No specific NWS forecast data provided for this date. Conditions subject to change based on overnight development. Check live buoys before heading out.
Tuesday 4/7 🟡: No specific forecast data available. Monitor NWS marine zone forecasts for your region as the week develops.
Wednesday-Friday 🟢: No data provided for mid-to-late week. Check thefloridaflow.com for daily updates as new buoy and forecast data comes in.
Offshore heights from buoys 20-60 nm. Nearshore smaller. Check with your operator.
Safety Tip
Sun and UV
| Sunrise | Morning Golden Hour | Evening Golden Hour | Sunset | UV Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7:13 AM | 7:13 AM - 7:58 AM | 6:48 PM - 7:33 PM | 7:33 PM | 8 -- Very High (UV Alert). Sunscreen, hat, and shade required. Tomorrow: 8. |
The Florida Flow aggregates NOAA buoy data, NWS marine forecasts, and operator reports. Offshore heights sourced from buoys 20-60 nm offshore and are not representative of nearshore conditions, which are typically smaller. Buoy data reflects observed conditions at the buoy location only. Conditions vary by site, depth, and time of day. Always confirm current conditions with your captain or dive operator before entering the water. Use at your own risk.