Marine Weather API for Florida

Marine Weather Challenges in Florida

Florida has more registered boats than any other US state, and its waters present some of the most variable marine weather conditions in North America. From the shallow flats of Florida Bay to the deep waters of the Gulf Stream just miles offshore, conditions can change dramatically over short distances.

The state's unique geography — a narrow peninsula surrounded by water on three sides — means that weather systems from the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Caribbean can all affect marine conditions simultaneously. Afternoon thunderstorms build nearly every day in summer, and hurricane season runs from June through November.

For developers building boating, fishing, or marine tourism applications, understanding these patterns is critical. A forecast that works for Tampa Bay won't necessarily apply to the Keys, and offshore Gulf Stream conditions are entirely different from nearshore waters.

Get a Marine Forecast for Florida

Here's how to get an AI-powered marine weather forecast for Biscayne Bay, Miami — one of the most popular boating areas in the state:

curl -X POST https://api.sealegs.ai/v3/spotcast \
  -H "X-API-Key: your_api_key" \
  -d '{
    "latitude": 25.7617,
    "longitude": -80.1918,
    "start_date": "2026-03-15",
    "num_days": 3,
    "vessel_info": {
      "type": "fishing",
      "length_ft": 28
    }
  }'

{
  "summary": "Excellent three-day window for a 28ft fishing vessel
    out of Biscayne Bay. Saturday and Sunday show east-southeast
    winds 8-12kt with seas 2-3ft at a comfortable 6-second period.
    Monday brings a slight uptick to 15kt as a weak front approaches,
    but conditions remain manageable. No significant precipitation
    expected. Gulf Stream waters will be slightly rougher — add
    1-2ft if heading offshore past the reef line.",
  "daily_forecasts": [
    {
      "date": "2026-03-15",
      "classification": "Excellent",
      "confidence": 0.94,
      "wind_speed_kt": 10,
      "wind_gust_kt": 14,
      "wave_height_ft": 2.3,
      "wave_period_s": 6
    }
  ]
}

The same request works for any Florida coordinates. Use 24.5551, -81.7800 for Key West, 27.9506, -82.4572 for Tampa Bay, or 30.3322, -81.6557 for Jacksonville.

Key Weather Parameters for Florida

The API returns a full set of marine weather parameters. For Florida waters, these are especially important:

• Wind speed & direction — Critical for crossing the Gulf Stream, where east winds against the northward current create dangerous steep seas
• Wave height & period — Short-period wind waves (3-5 seconds) are far rougher than long-period ocean swell, even at the same height
• Gusts — Afternoon thunderstorm gusts can hit 40-60kt with almost no warning; the forecast flags these risks
• Visibility — Early morning fog is common in winter, especially in the Intracoastal and near river inlets
• Precipitation — Helps predict summer thunderstorm timing and intensity
• AI classification — The daily GO / CAUTION / NO-GO rating accounts for how all parameters interact for your vessel type

Use Cases in Florida

Popular Florida Coordinates

Here are commonly used coordinates for Florida marine forecasts:

• Key West — 24.5551, -81.7800
• Miami / Biscayne Bay — 25.7617, -80.1918
• Fort Lauderdale / Port Everglades — 26.0924, -80.1094
• Palm Beach Inlet — 26.7765, -80.0334
• Tampa Bay — 27.9506, -82.4572
• Clearwater / Gulf Beaches — 27.9659, -82.8001
• Destin / Emerald Coast — 30.3935, -86.4958
• Jacksonville / St. Johns River — 30.3322, -81.6557