Marine forecast
Eastern Choctawhatchee Bay, FL
- current wind
- 8 kt SW
- Gusts
- 10 kt
- Air
- 84°F
- Water
- 81°F
- 72-hr peak
- 5 kt
Observed Tue 1:54 PM | GMZ636
- Gusts now
- 10 kt
- Air
- 84°F
- Water
- 81°F
- 72-hr peak
- 5 kt
In brief
At 1:54 pm CDT on Oct 13, 2026, NDBC station PCBF1 (Panama City Beach, FL, 22 miles away) measured wind from the SW at 8 kt, gusting to 10 kt. The NWS forecast for Eastern Choctawhatchee Bay, FL issued at 8:02 am CDT on Oct 13, 2026 reads, for today: “North winds around 5 knots, becoming southeast around 5 knots early this afternoon, then becoming west late. Waves 1 foot or less.”
Source: National Weather Service Mobile AL forecast; NDBC observations
Wind forecast · ktPeak 6 kt
NWS marine forecast
| Period | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Today | North winds around 5 knots, becoming southeast around 5 knots early this afternoon, then becoming west late. Waves 1 foot or less. Smooth. |
| Tonight | Northwest winds around 5 knots in the evening, becoming light and variable. Waves 1 foot or less. Smooth. |
| Wednesday | Northeast winds around 5 knots, becoming south in the afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less. Smooth. |
| Wednesday Night | Southwest winds around 5 knots in the evening, becoming light and variable. Waves 1 foot or less. Smooth. |
| Thursday | Northeast winds around 5 knots, becoming south around 5 knots in the afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less. Smooth. |
| Thursday Night | South winds around 5 knots, becoming north after midnight. Waves 1 foot or less. Smooth. |
| Friday | North winds around 5 knots, becoming northwest in the afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less. Smooth. |
| Friday Night | Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming north 15 to 20 knots after midnight. Waves 1 foot or less. Choppy. |
| Saturday | Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Waves around 2 feet. Choppy. |
| Saturday Night | Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Waves around 2 feet. Choppy. |
Issued Tue 8:02 AM by Mobile AL (product CWFMOB).
Synopsis
A diurnal flow cycle will occur through Friday with an offshore flow developing late each night into the morning hours then becoming onshore near the coast during the afternoon. Strong northerly winds are forecast for Friday night as a powerful cold front passes through the region, with gusts to gale force possible.
Recent buoy conditions
| Time | Wind | Gust | Seas | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 1:54 PM | 8 kt SW | 10 kt | — | 81°F |
| Tue 12:54 PM | 4 kt E | 8 kt | — | 81°F |
| Tue 11:54 AM | 5 kt NNE | 9 kt | — | 81°F |
| Tue 10:54 AM | 3 kt ENE | 7 kt | — | 80°F |
| Tue 9:54 AM | 5 kt NNE | 6 kt | — | 80°F |
| Tue 8:54 AM | 5 kt NNE | 9 kt | — | 80°F |
| Tue 7:54 AM | 5 kt NNE | 7 kt | — | 80°F |
| Tue 6:54 AM | 5 kt NE | 6 kt | — | 80°F |
| Tue 5:54 AM | 6 kt NNE | 7 kt | — | 80°F |
| Tue 4:54 AM | 6 kt NNE | 6 kt | — | 80°F |
| Tue 3:54 AM | 5 kt N | 6 kt | — | 80°F |
| Tue 2:54 AM | 5 kt N | 5 kt | — | 80°F |
Observed Tue 1:54 PM at NDBC buoy PCBF1 (Panama City Beach, FL), 21.6 miles away.
Frequently asked questions
What is the marine forecast for Eastern Choctawhatchee Bay today?
Today: North winds around 5 knots, becoming southeast around 5 knots early this afternoon, then becoming west late. Waves 1 foot or less. Smooth.
Is there a small craft advisory for Eastern Choctawhatchee Bay?
No advisories, warnings or watches are in effect for NWS zone GMZ636 as of the last update on this page. Advisories can be issued at any time; check the current bulletin before leaving the dock.
What is the water temperature at Eastern Choctawhatchee Bay?
The nearest buoy read 81°F (27°C) at Tue 1:54 PM. Sea surface temperature at a single buoy can differ by several degrees from the water at a beach or in a shallow bay nearby.
What do the wind speeds in knots mean?
One knot is 1.15 mph. The National Weather Service issues a small craft advisory for sustained winds of roughly 22–33 knots or hazardous seas, a gale warning at 34–47 knots, and a storm warning at 48 knots and above. Exact advisory thresholds vary by forecast office and by water body — a bay reaches dangerous chop at a lower wind speed than open ocean.
Where does this forecast come from?
The forecast text is the National Weather Service's own marine bulletin for zone GMZ636, issued by Mobile AL, reproduced in full. The wind and seas charts are drawn from the NWS gridded forecast for a point inside the zone. Observations come from the nearest reporting NDBC buoy. We are not affiliated with NOAA or the National Weather Service.
Forecast: NOAA/NWS product CWFMOB, issued Tue 8:02 AM. Observations: NOAA National Data Buoy Center station PCBF1, read Tue 1:54 PM. Retrieved Oct 13, 2:42 PM. Conditions offshore change faster than any page can be rebuilt, so check the current NWS bulletin and your own instruments before going out.