All About Marathon Weather and Sea Conditions

Marathon weather is not divided into four tidy seasons like one might find in more northern parts of the country. Here it seems we have two distinct seasons with a short transition between.

What we locals call winter doesn’t really have what anyone else would consider winter weather. During December and January we see winter. We get a few strong cold fronts a month that might sprinkle us with rain and drop the temperature. Normally the temperatures will only stay down for a day or two and then rebound into at least the 70s. Days between fronts are usually sunny, dry, and warm.

Following our short winter the remainder of the dry season, which usually runs from November until May, normally has sunny and clear weather. It seems the cold fronts coming from the north don’t quite have enough energy to push through the Keys starting in early February, a few do, but most stall north of us.

Keys residents know spring has started when we don’t get much rain, we don’t perspire much, and there aren’t any hurricanes. In our opinion, the Marathon weather is best from February to May.

On the Water

The middle Keys and Marathon area have a number of large cuts and channels that act as river to allow large amounts of seawater to flow between the ocean and bay. Under the bridges in the middle Keys where the water runs the fastest you’ll need to watch the wind and tide to make sure the combination doesn’t create waves bigger than your boat can handle.

A series of lights, located offshore along the main reefline, serve as aids to mariners. Some also monitor wind and temperatures. Sombrero Reef Light just offshore of the city of Marathon provides middle Keys wind speeds, air, and sea water temperatures.

Anticipated sea conditions and the location of the Gulfstream in relation to the middle Keys can be found by reviewing the Florida Keys marine forecast.