AFDKEY

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL
352 AM EDT FRI JUL 29 2011

.DISCUSSION...
ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS HAVE BEEN STEADILY PASSING THROUGH THE
ATLANTIC WATERS...MOSTLY OFF THE MIDDLE AND UPPER KEYS THIS MORNING.
SMALLER AND MORE WIDELY SPACED SHOWERS HAVE BEEN IN THE BAY AND
WESTERN WATERS SURROUNDING THE FLORIDA KEYS THIS MORNING. A FRESH
EAST TO SOUTHEAST WIND IS BLOWING ACROSS THE KEYS SERVICE AREA.

A LARGE AREA OF RIDGING IN THE MID TO UPPER LEVEL OVER THE
SOUTHEASTERN STATES WILL SETTLE A LITTLE SOUTHWARD TODAY AND SHIFT
WESTWARD BEGINNING ON SATURDAY. AT THE SURFACE...LITTLE CHANGES
EXPECTED IN THE ORIENTATION OF THE HIGH PRESSURE WHICH EXTENDS FROM
THE WESTERN ATLANTIC ACROSS NORTH FLORIDA AND THE SOUTHEAST COAST.
THE EASTERLY FLOW WILL REMAIN DEEP AND FRESH TODAY THROUGH AT LEAST
EARLY SUNDAY. SHOWERS WILL BE ISOLATED TO SCATTERED IN THE MOIST AND
UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT...ACCOMPANIED INFREQUENTLY BY A FEW THUNDERSTORMS.

A LONG WAVE TROUGH WILL SLIDE OFF THE MID ATLANTIC COAST LATE MONDAY
NIGHT. THE HIGH SURFACE PRESSURE WILL SETTLE SOUTHWARD AND
WEAKEN...RELAXING THE WINDS. SHOWERS SHOULD REMAIN SCATTERED THROUGH
THE EXTENDED PERIOD...EVEN AS THE UPPER RIDGING EXPANDS TOWARD THE
SOUTHEAST COAST AGAIN. NO CHANGES WERE MADE TO ANY OF OUR WEATHER
GRIDS.

&&

.MARINE...
SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION IN ALL WATERS SURROUNDING THE
FLORIDA KEYS TODAY THROUGH AT LEAST SATURDAY NIGHT. SUSTAINED WINDS
OF 15 TO 20 KNOTS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THEN. WINDS WILL GRADUALLY
DECREASE INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK AS HIGH SURFACE PRESSURE WEAKENS AND
SETTLES CLOSER TO SOUTH FLORIDA.

&&

.AVIATION...
VFR IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE REST OF THE PERIOD AT THE
ISLAND TERMINALS OF KEYW AND KMTH. ONLY THREATS FOR MVFR WILL COME
FROM VERY BRIEF SHOWER ACTIVITY. EASTERLY BREEZES WILL PERSIST AND
GUST AT TIMES TO 20 KNOTS.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
KEY WEST  92  84  92  84 / 30 30 30 30
MARATHON  94  84  94  84 / 30 30 30 30

&&

.KEY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...NONE.
GM...NONE.

&&

$$