The Florida Flow - April 6th
Daily ocean conditions for anyone on the water, Space Coast to Key Largo
Issue #21
Today's issue was brought to you by Space Coast divers, make sure to check them out before booking a dive, course, or trip.
A strong thunderstorm capable of producing winds to around 30 knots was located near Sand Cut, moving northwest at 25 knots, affecting Lake Okeechobee and surrounding waters. Mariners should seek safe harbor immediately. Gusty winds to 30 knots and locally higher waves are possible until this storm passes.
Good Monday morning. Buoys along the Florida east coast are showing a mixed bag for April 6. Up on the Space Coast, buoy 41009 sitting 20 nm offshore near Cocoa Beach and Sebastian is reading 4.3 ft seas at a 9-second period with a light 3.9 kt SSW wind. That 9-second period gives those waves a bit of shape, but 4-plus feet puts conditions firmly in the choppy range for most water activities nearshore. The Treasure Coast is looking comparatively cleaner: buoy 41114, just 6.5 nm off Vero and Fort Pierce, is showing 3.3 ft at 11 seconds and a pleasant 76.8 degrees F water temp. That longer period keeps things more organized. Down through Palm Beach and the Gold Coast, buoy 41122 (23 nm off Deerfield, Pompano, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami) reports 2.6 ft at a short 4-second period and 77.4 degrees F water. Short period at 2.6 ft reads choppier than it sounds. The Keys are quieter: Key West area buoy 42095 shows just 1.6 ft at a 5-second period with 78.1 degrees F water, and Marathon buoy SMKF1 reports winds of 9.9 kt from the east.
The big weather story today is a strong thunderstorm that was developing over Lake Okeechobee waters as of early afternoon. This cell was moving northwest at 25 knots and was capable of producing gusts to 30 knots and locally elevated wave heights. Anyone on or near the water inland or in the vicinity of the lake should be off the water now or monitoring conditions closely. Along the coast, southeast winds near 9 kt at the Lake Worth area (buoy LKWF1) and east winds near 10 kt in the Middle Keys are the base background for the afternoon. The active thunderstorm threat adds an unpredictable layer on top of otherwise moderate offshore conditions. Keep a close eye on radar before any afternoon departure.
At Blue Heron Bridge in Riviera Beach, today's optimal low tide window centers on 11:45 AM (2.2 ft low), with the best dive window running from approximately 11:15 AM to 12:15 PM. That window has already passed by late morning, but if you caught it, conditions looked workable with light SE winds at 8.9 kt from nearby buoy LKWF1. Tomorrow's schedule offers two windows: a fair overnight low at 12:24 AM (2.6 ft, window 11:54 PM to 12:54 AM) and an optimal afternoon low at 12:26 PM (2.1 ft, window 11:56 AM to 12:56 PM). The afternoon window tomorrow looks like the pick of the two.
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 |
CHOPPY | 5-15 ftPREDICTED | 4.3 ft, 9sOBSERVED | 3.9 kt SSWOBSERVED | -- | 41009 (20 nm) |
| Treasure Coast Vero / Ft Pierce |
MARGINAL | 10-30 ftPREDICTED | 3.3 ft, 11sOBSERVED | -- | 76.8 FOBSERVED | 41114 (6.5 nm) |
| Blue Heron Bridge / Palm Beach Singer Island |
CALM | Tidal 5-20 ftPREDICTED | -- | 8.9 kt SEOBSERVED | 78.3 FOBSERVED | LKWF1 (inshore) |
| Gold Coast Deerfield / Pompano / Fort Lauderdale |
MARGINAL | 10-30 ftPREDICTED | 2.6 ft, 4sOBSERVED | -- | 77.4 FOBSERVED | 41122 (23 nm) |
| Miami / Key Biscayne | MARGINAL | 10-30 ftPREDICTED | 2.6 ft, 4sOBSERVED | -- | 77.4 FOBSERVED | 41122 (23 nm) |
| Key Largo / Upper Keys | NO DATA | -- | -- | -- | -- | MLRF1 decommissioned Feb 2023. No replacement. |
| Marathon / Middle Keys | CALM | 40-80 ftPREDICTED | -- (wind only) | 9.9 kt EOBSERVED | -- | SMKF1 (1 nm) |
| Key West / Lower Keys | GOOD | 20-50 ftPREDICTED | 1.6 ft, 5sOBSERVED | -- | 78.1 FOBSERVED | 42095 (15 nm) |
Sources: Space Coast from buoy 41009, 20 nm offshore (NWS zone AMZ630). Treasure Coast from buoy 41114, 6.5 nm offshore (NWS zone AMZ632). Blue Heron Bridge and Palm Beach from inshore buoy LKWF1 (NWS zone AMZ750). Gold Coast, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami from buoy 41122, 23 nm offshore (NWS zone AMZ752). Key Largo and Upper Keys have no buoy coverage since MLRF1 was decommissioned February 2023 with no replacement. Marathon from nearshore buoy SMKF1, 1 nm offshore (NWS zone GMZ876). Key West from buoy 42095, 15 nm offshore (NWS zone GMZ878). BHB tide windows from iDiveFlorida. UV index from Open-Meteo. Offshore buoy readings are not representative of nearshore conditions. Confirm with your captain.
Activity Snapshot
| Activity | Verdict | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🤿 Scuba | MARGINAL | Lower Keys and Marathon are the best bets today. Space Coast and Treasure Coast sitting at 3-4 ft offshore. BHB window passed mid-morning. Active thunderstorm advisory adds risk to afternoon water entry anywhere. Verify with your operator. |
| 🏄 Surfing | CHOPPY | Space Coast has the most size at 4.3 ft / 9s offshore but conditions are choppy. South Florida at 2.6 ft / 4s is short-period and messy. Thunderstorm watch adds lightning risk to open-water exposure. Verify with your operator. |
| 🚣 Kayak / SUP | MARGINAL | Protected inshore and bay water is workable given the light winds at most stations. SE winds at 8.9 kt in Palm Beach and E at 9.9 kt in Marathon are manageable close to shore. Avoid open water with the afternoon thunderstorm threat active. Verify with your operator. |
| ⛵ Boating / Fishing | ROUGH (Advisory) | Active strong thunderstorm advisory with gusts to 30 kt over Lake Okeechobee waters. Mariners advised to seek safe harbor. Offshore seas 2.6-4.3 ft across the east coast. Port Everglades current at 0.18 kt N, light. Plan around the storm first. Verify with your operator. |
| 🏖️ Beach | MARGINAL | UV index 8 (Very High, UV Alert) today. Reapply sunscreen every 90 minutes minimum and seek shade during peak afternoon hours. Water temps are comfortable at 77-78 F. Thunderstorm risk this afternoon. Watch the sky and exit the water at first rumble. Verify with your operator. |
Blue Heron Bridge Dive Windows
Low tide: 11:45 AM at 2.2 ft -- OPTIMAL
Window: 11:15 AM to 12:15 PM (1 hour centered on low)
Note: This window has passed for today. Plan ahead for tomorrow.
Tomorrow, Tuesday April 7
Low tide: 12:24 AM at 2.6 ft -- FAIR (overnight)
Window: 11:54 PM tonight to 12:54 AM tomorrow
Low tide: 12:26 PM at 2.1 ft -- OPTIMAL
Window: 11:56 AM to 12:56 PM
The afternoon window on Tuesday is the pick. Arrive early, stage your gear, and be in the water before the tide bottoms out. BHB visibility is tidal and ranges from 5-20 ft depending on conditions and recent weather.
Marine Life Sightings
Visibility: 50-60 ft. Water temp: 77 F. Current: trickle north. Waves: 3-4 ft.
"Saw lots of tropical fish, a hawksbill turtle, a couple green morays and a spotted moray and lots of pretty corals and sponges!"
-- Reported directly by operator.
Rainbow Reef, Key Largo -- April 5, 2026
The data submitted by Rainbow Reef for April 5 appears to be corrupted or improperly formatted and cannot be parsed. No reliable conditions or sighting information from this operator is available for this date. Check directly with Rainbow Reef for current site conditions before diving.
Week Outlook
Tuesday 4/7 🟡: No additional NWS forecast data provided beyond current advisory. Monitor buoys and NWS for updates. BHB afternoon window looks workable.
Wednesday 4/8 🟡: No NWS forecast data available in this issue. Check thefloridaflow.com for updates as new NWS guidance is issued.
Thursday 4/9 thru Sunday 4/12 🟡: Insufficient NWS forecast data to issue day-by-day outlooks beyond the current advisory period. Monitor daily issues for updates.
Offshore heights from buoys 20-60 nm. Nearshore smaller. Check with your operator.
Safety Tip
Today's active advisory shows a thunderstorm near Lake Okeechobee moving northwest at 25 knots, which means it can cover several miles in minutes. The standard rule for lightning safety on the water is: if you can hear thunder, you are already within lightning strike range. Do not wait for rain to start before heading in. With UV at 8 (Very High) today, the midday hours are already the most hazardous for sun exposure, and afternoon convection is common this time of year. Build an exit plan before you launch, not after the sky turns dark.
Sun and UV
| Sunrise | Morning Golden Hour | Evening Golden Hour | Sunset | UV Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7:11 AM | 7:11 AM - 7:56 AM | 6:49 PM - 7:34 PM | 7:34 PM | 8 -- Very High (UV Alert) Tomorrow: 6 |
Quick Poll
A. Blue Heron Bridge B. Key Largo Reef C. Looe Key D. Key West Wrecks
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The Florida Flow aggregates NOAA buoy data, NWS marine forecasts, operator reports, and third-party sources including Open-Meteo and iDiveFlorida. Offshore heights are from buoys located 1-23 nm offshore. Nearshore conditions vary and are typically smaller or more influenced by local wind and bottom structure. All visibility estimates are predicted unless otherwise noted. This newsletter is for informational purposes only. Confirm all conditions with your captain or dive operator before entering the water. Use at your own risk.