Florida - West Coast
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.
Sat, May 16: 0–1ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with calm winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 8mph.
Sun, May 17: flat–flatft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — Flat and mostly poor with 15mph SE winds.
Mon, May 18: 0–1ft, 5s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 19mph out of the E.
Tue, May 19: 0–1ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 17mph out of the E.
Wed, May 20: 0–1ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 15mph ESE winds.
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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 4.55s swell period. Wind is ESE at 9mph and conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Florida Keys Reef is 0-1ft, produced by a 0.3ft WSW primary swell at 5s, a 0.3ft WNW secondary swell at 5s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Florida Keys Reef is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 5s swell period, and conditions rated 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
