Smathers Beach, Key West
Shark Weather report · updated Sun Oct 18, 11:06 pm ET
Sunrise/sunset calculated for this beach’s location (NOAA solar equations, ±2 min). Tides: NOAA CO-OPS predictions, Key West, White Street Pier (8724557), 1 km away, feet above MLLW.
Surf/swim conditions only, never shark risk. How it's calculated
We have no approved official shark advisory or closure for this beach right now. Sharks live along this whole coast, so always check with lifeguards and posted signs.
No past official advisories on file for this beach yet. How this works
7–10 AM · breezy (up to 20 mph), mid tide, falling
💨 Mid-window wind: Breezy cross-offshore, 20 mph from NE: clean but strong
Daylight hours only (sunrise 7:26 am, sunset 6:57 pm). From the NWS hourly forecast (wind) and NOAA CO-OPS hourly tide predictions (Key West, 4 km away). Surf/swim conditions only, not a safety rating. How it works
7-day outlook
Today Oct 18
Mon Oct 19
Tue Oct 20
Wed Oct 21
Thu Oct 22
Fri Oct 23
Sat Oct 24
Weather, wind and rain chance: National Weather Service (Tonight onward), updated Sun Oct 18, 9:15 pm ET. High / overnight low. “n/a” = NWS gave no rain chance. Waves: no fresh NWS surf zone forecast for this beach, so no wave outlook (“—”).
Conditions
Waves
Significant wave height 1.6 m · dominant period 5 s · from 90° (E)
Satan Shoal buoy, 26 km away, as of 9:30 pm ET · NOAA NDBC · Data courtesy of CDIP (station 244). Buoys measure offshore; breaking surf at the beach can differ.
Surf zone forecastNWS
Status unknown, check lifeguards.
Water temp
Wetsuit meter: today 86°F, swimsuit / boardshorts
Key West (NOAA CO-OPS 8724580), 4 km away, as of 10:06 pm ET. The wetsuit meter is a general comfort guide.
Weather & wind
Tonight: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 77°F, wind 20 mph NE
- Monday: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 86°
- Monday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 75°
National Weather Service (KEY) forecast, updated Sun Oct 18, 9:15 pm ET
💨 Breezy cross-offshore, 20 mph from NE: clean but strong (how)
Tides today
| Tide | Time (ET) | Height |
|---|---|---|
| High | 2:08 am | 2.1 ft |
| Low | 10:10 am | 0.7 ft |
| High | 4:56 pm | 1.4 ft |
| Low | 8:50 pm | 1.2 ft |
NOAA CO-OPS predictions, Key West, White Street Pier (8724557), 1 km away · feet above MLLW
Water quality
Official status: Florida Healthy Beaches (Florida Department of Health) · Florida Department of Health in Monroe County
The state samples beach water for enterococci bacteria: Good 0–35, Moderate 36–70, Poor 71 or more per 100 mL. If a result is above 70 and a resample is too, the county issues an advisory for that site. We haven’t found an official machine-readable feed we’re allowed to reuse, so we link to the official results instead of showing a status.
Florida Department of Health, Healthy Beaches Program (checked 2026-10-18).
Lifeguards
City of Key West
We couldn’t confirm lifeguard coverage on the official page. Check posted signs for guarded areas and hours.
In an emergency call 911.
Beach warning flags
- Double red: Water is closed to the public.
- Red: High hazard: high surf and/or strong currents.
- Yellow: Medium hazard: moderate surf and/or currents.
- Green: Low hazard: calm conditions, exercise caution.
- Purple: Dangerous marine life spotted.
Florida uses one statewide set of beach warning flags (section 380.276, Florida Statutes). No flag flying does not mean the water is safe. Lifeguards post today’s flags at the beach.
Meanings: Volusia County Beach Safety. Program: Florida DEP Beach Warning Flag Program.
SwellNDBC
| Primary swell | SW 1.0 ft @ 11.1 s |
| Wind waves (secondary) | E 4.9 ft @ 5.4 s |
This swell is mostly blocked here (by our estimated swell window)
Swell window for this beach (estimate)
Reaches well from: none · partly from: 120–220° (directions the swell comes from, degrees true). South-facing behind the reef tract; usually flat or very small. Estimate only: bearings read from coastline orientation and generally known exposure, roughly ±15°, not surveyed.
Satan Shoal buoy (42095), 26 km offshore, spectral summary as of 9:30 pm ET · NOAA NDBC · Data courtesy of CDIP (station 244). Height in feet (converted from meters), period in seconds, direction the waves come from.
Beach info
| Parking | $5 per hour (Monday–Saturday 8 am to midnight, Sunday noon to midnight). |
| Restrooms | Yes, 7:00 am to 6:30 pm. |
| Showers | Yes |
| Surf / swim rules | Open sunrise to sunset. |
| Good to know | Volleyball courts. |
From official pages: cityofkeywest-fl.gov. Checked 2026-10-18. Rules, fees and hours change; follow posted signs and lifeguards.
