Florida - West Coast
Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with 10mph SW winds.
Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with 10mph SW winds.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Florida Keys Reef for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Florida Keys Reef, Florida - West Coast. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 0–1ft, 2s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with 10mph SW winds.
Fri, Sep 4: 0–1ft, 3s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with light winds out of the SE.
Sat, Sep 5: 0–1ft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with 16mph out of the SE.
Sun, Sep 6: 0–1ft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with 9mph from the SE.
Mon, Sep 7: 0–1ft, 3s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with gentle ESE breeze.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Florida Keys Reef turns Good.
Check Florida Keys Reef from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Florida Keys Reef sits in the remote southern reaches of florida - west coast, where the living coral reef system of the Florida Keys chain creates rare and unpredictable wave opportunities in an otherwise calm subtropical environment. Waves here are highly dependent on tropical storm and hurricane swells pushing out of the Atlantic or Gulf, producing short, powerful, and extremely shallow reef breaks that demand respect. The crystal-clear warm water and dramatic coral formations make this a unique and memorable experience for expert surfers willing to time their visit to passing tropical systems.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Florida Keys Reef is 0-1ft with a 1.75s swell period. Wind is SW at 10mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
Breaking wave height is the actual size of waves as they break at Florida Keys Reef, calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry. Unlike raw buoy readings that measure swells in deep water, breaking wave height tells you the rideable wave size you'll see when you paddle out.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Florida Keys Reef is Saturday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 1ft waves, a 2.2s swell period, and conditions rated Very Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Florida Keys Reef works best with a SE swell and NW winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Florida Keys Reef. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Florida Keys Reef is a reef with a reef bottom, suited to expert surfers. Florida Keys Reef sits in the remote southern reaches of florida - west coast, where the living coral reef system of the Florida Keys chain creates rare and unpredictable wave opportunities in an otherwise calm subtropical environment. Waves here are highly dependent on tropical storm and hurricane swells pushing out of the Atlantic or Gulf, producing short, powerful, and extremely shallow reef breaks that demand respect. The crystal-clear warm water and dramatic coral formations make this a unique and memorable experience for expert surfers willing to time their visit to passing tropical systems.
The prime season at Florida Keys Reef is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Florida Keys Reef include shallow reef, sharp coral, strong currents, jellyfish, sharks, boat traffic, remote location, sea urchins. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Florida Keys Reef forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable; extended forecasts show general trends. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
