City of Key Colony Beach Official City Website

Weather Brief: Severe Squall Potential Sunday & Strong Wind/Coastal Flood Threat Monday through early Tuesday

From the National Weather Service:

Good morning,

The latest update to the Florida Keys of Monroe County weather brief is attached and posted at https://www.weather.gov/media/key/DSS/dssbrief_land.pdf

CHANGES:   The Severe Weather Outlook for the Florida Keys for Sunday has been upgraded to SLIGHT RISK (Level 2 out of 5), including an increased threat for a couple tornadoes and damaging thunderstorm wind gusts with a squall passage from mid morning through early afternoon Sunday.

Bottom Line:

The threat for a couple tornadoes and damaging thunderstorm wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph during Sunday has increased for the Florida Keys, with the RISK for severe weather now upgraded to SLIGHT (Level 2 out of 5).  The best chance for severe weather Sunday will occur with the passage of a thundery squall during the mid morning through early afternoon hours.

This will be followed by an increasing potential for strong westerly winds with frequent gusts near 35 mph for the Florida Keys beginning midday Monday and continuing through Tuesday morning, resulting in a threat of moderate coastal flooding especially along the Gulf and bayside of the Florida Keys around the times of the Monday evening high tide.

In addition, large westerly seas moving into the Straits of Florida later Monday through Tuesday will cause  long-period breaking waves to likely overwash seawalls and exposed oceanfront streets, as well as some beach erosion. This will mostly impact the oceanside of the Keys from Key West through Marathon and Key Colony Beach.

The next briefing is scheduled for 8:00 am Sunday, but may be sooner if expected impacts for the Florida Keys change.

The next briefing is scheduled for Sunday morning, but may be sooner if expected impacts for the Florida Keys change.  Tactical weather decision support is available via 305-295-1316 extension 241.  Please use extension 3 for general weather inquiries.

Note: Florida Severe Weather Awareness Week runs next week from February 5 through 9, 2024, with the (voluntary) Statewide Tornado Drill scheduled for 10:00 am EST on Wednesday, February 7th (for the Florida Keys). A resource is provided below; the WFO Florida Keys will highlight additional information concerning the drill after the threat of hazardous weather has passed.

Florida Severe Weather Awareness Week Topics for 2024 courtesy of the Florida Division of Emergency Management is linked below.  There is excellent information concerning the statewide tornado drill under the Wednesday (February 7th) expandable tab.

https://www.floridadisaster.org/planprepare/swaw/