Winds will veer from southeast tonight to south on Sunday as they gradually increase ahead of an approaching cold front.

The front will bring a chance of rain and shifting winds as it crosses the region Monday and Monday night.

Winds and seas should reach exercise caution level from Monday afternoon thru early Tuesday and possibly advisory levels western legs Monday night or Tuesday morning behind the front.

Forecast as of 3:09 PM EST on December 15, 2012

Coastal Waters From Apalachicola To Destin Fl Out 20 Nm-
Waters From Apalachicola To Destin Fl From 20 To 60 Nm-

Tonight
Southeast wind 5 to 10 knots increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Protected waters smooth increasing to a light to moderate chop.

Sunday
South wind 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Protected waters a light to moderate chop. Patchy dense fog in the morning. A slight chance of showers and afternoon thunderstorms.

Sunday Night
South wind 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet. Protected waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers and isolated thunderstorms.

Monday
Southwest wind 10 to 15 knots becoming west 15 to 20 knots late in the afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 feet. Protected waters a light to moderate chop increasing to choppy late in the afternoon. A chance of showers and isolated thunderstorms.

Monday Night
Northwest wind 15 to 20 knots except around 20 knots well offshore. Seas building to 5 to 7 feet. Protected waters choppy. A chance of rain through the night.

Tuesday
Northwest wind 15 to 20 knots becoming 10 to 15 knots in the late morning. Seas 4 to 6 feet subsiding to 3 to 4 feet in the afternoon. Protected waters choppy becoming a light to moderate chop in the late morning.

Tuesday Night
Northwest wind 10 to 15 knots becoming north 5 to 10 knots in the late evening. Seas 2 to 4 feet. Protected waters a light to moderate chop becoming smooth in the late evening.

Wednesday
Southeast wind around 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Protected waters smooth.

Wednesday Night
Southeast wind 5 to 10 knots increasing to 10 to 15 knots in the late evening. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Protected waters smooth increasing to a light to moderate chop in the late evening.

Thursday
South wind 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Protected waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers and thunderstorms through the day.