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Reporting at Capitola Beach
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Capitola Beach

TAR/OIL 8.4/10 0 reports today Β· last 3 days ago
Tar/Oil scores 0–10 Β· 10 clean
8.4 Sand
10.0 Water
Surf
SURF – Β· –
Offshore swell –
Wind
4.2 kt
offshore Β· NE
Tide ft MLLW
L 10:13 AM
now 2.1 ft falling Β· next L 2.0 Β· 10:13 AM
Temps
– Water
56.1Β°F Air

Tar/Oil Conditions

TAR/OIL SCORE (0-10 Β· 10 = clean) Β· 7 DAYSHow scoring works β†’
now 8.4

Surf

Offshore Buoy β€” Monterey46042 Β· obs + forecast Β· NDBC / wave model
no data
Swell direction Β· every 6h
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Loading swell x tar…

more in Research β†’

Weather

Weather
56.1Β°Fsunny4.2 ktUV 0Sunrise 6:42 AM Β· Sunset 7:30 PM
Today, hour by hour
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Wind direction
Sat 12 AM
Sat 4 AM
Sat 8 AM
Sat 12 PM
Sat 4 PM
Sat 8 PM
TodayUV 7 HighSunrise 6:42 AMSunset 7:30 PMMoonrise 12:16 AMMoonset 4:02 PM🌘 Waning Crescentnext full moon Sep 27

Live Observations

Jul 18, 11:39 AM anon Waterline Clean Trace <1% Balls Pea Firm None – A
Jul 16, 5:02 PM anon Waterline Black line Sporadic 1-10% Film – – None – A
Jul 16, 1:34 PM anon Wrack line Black line Sporadic 1-10% Film – – None – C
Jul 12, 5:32 PM moremesa_mo Wrack line Clean Sporadic 1-10% Balls – Hard None – B
Jul 12, 6:54 AM sandsbeach_sam Dry sand Clean None Greasy coat – – None – B
Jul 11, 9:25 AM anon Dry sand Black line Sporadic 1-10% Film – – None – A
Jul 10, 2:55 PM anon Wrack line Black line Trace <1% Balls Pea Sticky None – B
Jul 9, 12:09 PM anon Dry sand Clean Sporadic 1-10% Balls – Firm – – C
Jul 8, 2:39 PM anon Dry sand Sheen Trace <1% Balls Coin Hard None – A
Jul 4, 5:40 PM anon Waterline Clean Trace <1% Balls Coin Firm None – B
Jul 4, 12:44 PM haskells_hal Waterline Sheen Trace <1% Balls Coin Hard None – B
Jul 4, 10:34 AM anon Waterline Clean Trace <1% Balls Coin Firm – – A
Jul 3, 2:17 PM anon Wrack line Clean None Greasy coat – – – – B
Jul 3, 1:11 PM anon Waterline Clean Trace <1% Balls Pea Hard None – C
Jul 3, 9:39 AM oceanwatch_ok Dry sand Black line Sporadic 1-10% Balls Pea Hard None – C
Jul 1, 11:19 AM copr_intern Waterline Clean Sporadic 1-10% Balls Slab Firm – – B
Jun 30, 10:29 AM anon Wrack line Clean Trace <1% Balls Coin Hard – – C
Jun 30, 7:18 AM anon Dry sand Clean Trace <1% Balls Coin – – – A
Jun 29, 6:26 PM anon Wrack line Black line Sporadic 1-10% Balls Coin Firm Sheen, Tar balls – A
Jun 29, 3:16 PM anon Waterline Clean None Greasy coat – – – – B

16-Day Forecast

Confidence is an estimate based on forecast lead time.

Nearby Buoys

Buoy 46042 just now
Wave ht 4.9ft
Period –
Water temp 61.7Β°F
Station 46042 on NDBC →

Photo Gallery

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Nearby Incident Reports

Aug 30, 2026 IncidentNews Sunken Vessel at Boat Ramp; Moss Landing, California 23 km Source β†—
Aug 7, 2026 IncidentNews Disabled Vessel near Elk Horn Slough; Moss Landing, California 22.3 km Source β†—
Jun 13, 2026 IncidentNews Sunken Fishing Vessel in Santa Cruz Harbor; Santa Cruz, California 4.6 km Source β†—
Show older (19)
Dec 27, 2025 NRC raw raw report β€” unverified: CALLER STATES THEY HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE NOTIFICATIONS OF BLACK TAR PATTIES & TAR BALLS RANGING FROM .5"-7.5" WITH A GOOEY CARAMEL/MARSHMAL… 3.3 km β€”
Oct 26, 2025 NRC raw raw report β€” unverified: THE CALLER REPORTED THAT A CAR WAS BACKING UP AND BROKE THROUGH A BARRIER AND WENT INTO MONTEREY BAY. A SHEEN WAS REPORTED FROM A RELEASE OF… 6 km β€”
Oct 3, 2025 NRC raw raw report β€” unverified: THE CALLER REPORTED THAT A PLEASURE CRAFT VESSEL CAPSIZED IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN. NO MATERIALS HAVE BEEN RELEASED AND NO SHEEN WAS OBSERVED, B… 21.4 km β€”
Jul 16, 2025 NRC raw raw report β€” unverified: /// POTENTIAL RELEASE /// THE CALLER STATED THAT A VESSEL CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO STACKS ON THE VESSEL. BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT, THERE IS A P… 2.8 km β€”
Jan 16, 2025 IncidentNews Battery Facility Fire; Moss Landing, CA 23.6 km Source β†—
Mar 22, 2022 IncidentNews Sailing Vessel Sunk Off Santa Cruz, CA 9.9 km Source β†—
Dec 4, 2020 IncidentNews 16’ Vessel Adrift; Monterey Bay, CA 24.6 km Source β†—
Aug 6, 2020 IncidentNews Humpback Whale Carcass; Santa Cruz, CA 5.8 km Source β†—
May 20, 2020 IncidentNews Gray whale carcass; Santa Cruz, CA 5.8 km Source β†—
Aug 12, 2018 IncidentNews Grounded F/V Pacific Quest; Santa Cruz, CA 10.5 km Source β†—
Jul 1, 2018 IncidentNews Broken up vessel "Dickey Byrd"; Santa Cruz, CA, USA 13.4 km Source β†—
Jul 20, 2016 IncidentNews Mystery sheens; Off Moss Landing Harbor, CA 22.2 km Source β†—
Jan 5, 2016 IncidentNews Oiled birds; Monterey Bay, CA 17.9 km Source β†—
Feb 18, 2009 IncidentNews Mystery Tarballs; Santa Cruz, CA 6.4 km Source β†—
Sep 12, 2001 IncidentNews Monterey Bay Mystery Tarballs; Marina, CA 24.2 km Source β†—
Jul 24, 2001 IncidentNews Vessel Adrift; Monterey Bay Sanctuary 6.9 km Source β†—
May 4, 2000 IncidentNews FV Nita H; Smudoski Beach, CA 24.2 km Source β†—
Jun 5, 1999 IncidentNews Spill off California Coast; Davenport, California 20 km Source β†—
Oct 24, 1997 IncidentNews Mystery Spill/Monterey Bird Incident; Santa Cruz, California 5.7 km Source β†—