Tar Report for Morro Strand State Beach

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California coast · Central Coast

Morro Strand State Beach

No Recent Reports

Tar/Oil – / 10 No Recent Reports · Unknown, Not Clean Surf 6-7 ft @ 10.5 s Estimated Breaking Height And Its Period

At A Glance

Tar

Reading the tar score Higher is cleaner. 10 means less tar reported; lower scores mean more tar or oil.Based on beach reports. Reports from the past 72 hours count, with more weight given to recent, better-supported reports. The lowest sand, water or smell score sets the overall score.A dash means unknown. No reports does not mean a clean beach.How scoring works
– / 10
No Recent Reports
Sand – no reports Water – no reports
Reports today 0
no tar reports on record

Surf

Reading the surf Height & period. Estimated breaking-wave height at this beach, followed by seconds between waves. The buoy readings below describe conditions offshore instead.Word & dots. More filled dots mean better predicted surf, based on waves and wind. Unrated means an input is missing.Before paddling out. This is an estimate, not a live surf check or a safety rating. Check conditions at the beach.How scoring works
6-7 ft @ 10.5 s
overhead
Good 3.5 out of 5
Offshore Swell obs 38m ago
5.8 ft Height 12.5 s Period 271° W From
Diablo Canyon Buoy. 10/20 11:30 PM
Model: Tarline Zyphyr Model v4

Temp

Air and water temperatures Air. The weather forecast for this beach.Water. A nearby buoy reading. Water at the shoreline can be warmer or colder.Units & time. Temperatures are in °F. The water reading's time is Pacific time.
Air 59.9 °F
Water 67.5 °F
Water: Diablo Canyon Buoy. 10/20 11:58 PM

Wind

Reading the wind Speed & gusts. Shown in knots (kt). Gusts are short bursts of stronger wind.Direction. The arrow and compass bearing show where the wind comes from.At the beach. Offshore blows toward the water; onshore blows toward land. Sideshore blows along the coast.
3.0 kt gusting 3.5 kt (+0.5)
99° E offshore
Model: Open-Meteo Weather

Tide

Reading the tides Predicted, not measured. Dots mark NOAA's predicted high and low tides for the CO-OPS station mapped to this beach, which is a different place from the sand you stand on. The line between the dots is Tarline's own interpolation.Height & time. Feet above NOAA's low-water reference, not the water depth. All times are Pacific.Explore the curve. Tap or focus a dot for its time and height.
Low tide, 2.8 ft @ 1:03 pm, Tue, Oct 20 Pacific 1:03pm High tide, 4.4 ft @ 6:27 pm, Tue, Oct 20 Pacific 6:27pm Low tide, 0.7 ft @ 1:19 am, Wed, Oct 21 Pacific 1:19am High tide, 4.5 ft @ 8:02 am, Wed, Oct 21 Pacific 8:02am Low tide, 2.2 ft @ 1:45 pm, Wed, Oct 21 Pacific 1:45pm High tide, 4.5 ft @ 7:23 pm, Wed, Oct 21 Pacific 7:23pm Low tide, 0.8 ft @ 1:50 am, Thu, Oct 22 Pacific 1:50am High tide, 4.9 ft @ 8:21 am, Thu, Oct 22 Pacific 8:21am 4.9 0.7 Tue 1 PM now Thu 8 AM
Plotted Window, Pacific Time
4.9 ft @ 8:21 am Highest · Thu, Oct 22 0.7 ft @ 1:19 am Lowest · Wed, Oct 21
NOAA 9412110 · predicted tides

As Of 10/21/26 12am Forecast About this forecast time The forecast hour. This is the hour the weather forecast describes, not when it was downloaded.Other readings. Buoy readings and tar reports have their own times on the cards. Tides are predictions.Every source and time. Open Sources & timestamps below for each feed's observation, forecast and retrieval times in full.

Sources & timestamps6 sources
  • Surf estimateTarline exposure window model on Open-Meteo Marine

    request coordinates 35.37,-120.86

    Valid for
    the time this forecast or prediction describes, not when it was made
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    Computed here from the modeled offshore swell and wind sea for this beach's hour, screened by the beach's exposure windows. Modeled throughout, with no measurement at the beach. The upstream model issue time was not recorded with these data, so issuance is unknown.

    Open the Tarline exposure window model on Open-Meteo Marine source ↗
  • Offshore swellCDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

    Diablo Canyon (46215)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    One instrument's own reading of open water, selected independently of the water temperature station. The observation time is the oldest of the wave fields shown, so it can overstate a single field's age but never understate it. Read through CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography as 076. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this field's provider and product, not response completion or the age of the reading.

    Open the CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography source ↗
  • Water temperatureCDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

    Diablo Canyon (46215)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    One instrument's own reading, selected independently of the wave station. Read through CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography as 076. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this field's provider and product, not response completion or the age of the reading.

    Open the CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography source ↗
  • WeatherOpen-Meteo Forecast API

    Requested at 35.3733, -120.8642

    Valid for
    the time this forecast or prediction describes, not when it was made
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    Modeled hourly weather for this beach's coordinates, not a reading from an instrument at the beach. The upstream model issue time was not recorded with these data, so issuance is unknown.

    Open the Open-Meteo Forecast API source ↗
  • TideCO-OPS, NOAA

    Port San Luis tide (9412110)

    Valid for
    the time this forecast or prediction describes, not when it was made
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    Harmonic high and low predictions on the MLLW datum, not an observed water level. The time shown is the predicted extreme itself.

    Open the CO-OPS, NOAA source ↗
  • Sun and moonSunCalc, calculated locally

    35.3733, -120.8642

    Calculated
    the recorded time of the local calculation

    SunCalc computes sun and moon rise/set times from the Pacific date and beach coordinates, assuming an unobstructed horizon. Moon phase depends on date and time, not the beach location. No feed or beach sensor is involved; terrain and atmospheric conditions affect visible rise/set times.

    Open the SunCalc, calculated locally source ↗

All times are Pacific. An upstream issue time is shown only when recorded. A feed response time is not the provider's model initialization or publication time. Unlisted timestamps were not recorded or do not apply.

Find This Beach

Beach forecast · offshore context

Surf Outlook

Estimated breaking-face height at the beach is separate from offshore buoy wave height. These estimates are not validated measurements.

Surf Forecast

Morning and evening estimates, with swell and wind context.

Day Time of day Rating Size Surf Offshore swell Wind Weather Surf basis
WED OCT 21
Wed, 10/21 Morning 6 ft or more 6-7 ft @ 9.7 s · overhead 5-6 ft @ 12.1 s 5.3kt offshore Overcast · 60.6°F Exposure estimate
Wed, 10/21 Evening 4 to under 6 ft 5-6 ft @ 9.1 s · overhead 5-6 ft @ 11.3 s 13.2kt offshore Overcast · 64°F Exposure estimate
THU OCT 22
Thu, 10/22 Morning 2 to under 4 ft 3-4 ft @ 7.6 s · chest-to-head 4-5 ft @ 10.9 s 7.5kt offshore Mostly cloudy · 58.4°F Exposure estimate
Thu, 10/22 Evening 2 to under 4 ft 3-4 ft @ 7.4 s · chest-to-head 3-4 ft @ 10.9 s 2.6kt onshore Partly cloudy · 64.4°F Exposure estimate
FRI OCT 23
Fri, 10/23 Morning 4 to under 6 ft 4-5 ft @ 5.9 s · chest-to-head 4-5 ft @ 9.1 s 4.5kt sideshore Mostly cloudy · 59.5°F Exposure estimate
Fri, 10/23 Evening 4 to under 6 ft 4-5 ft @ 6.8 s · chest-to-head 5-6 ft @ 9.1 s 9.2kt onshore Mostly cloudy · 63°F Exposure estimate
SAT OCT 24
Sat, 10/24 Morning 4 to under 6 ft 5-6 ft @ 7.1 s · overhead 5-6 ft @ 9.4 s 5.7kt offshore Clear · 63°F Exposure estimate
Sat, 10/24 Evening 4 to under 6 ft 4-5 ft @ 7.1 s · chest-to-head 4-5 ft @ 9.6 s 7.4kt onshore Clear · 69.9°F Exposure estimate
SUN OCT 25
Sun, 10/25 Morning 2 to under 4 ft 3-4 ft @ 6.6 s · chest-to-head 3-4 ft @ 10.2 s 2.9kt offshore Clear · 65.5°F Exposure estimate
Sun, 10/25 Evening 2 to under 4 ft 2-3 ft @ 6.5 s · waist-high 3-4 ft @ 10.6 s 6.8kt onshore Clear · 69.1°F Exposure estimate
MON OCT 26
Mon, 10/26 Morning Under 1 ft 0-1 ft @ – s · ankle-high 2-3 ft @ 11.9 s 3kt offshore Clear · 65.6°F Exposure estimate
Mon, 10/26 Evening Under 1 ft 0-1 ft @ 1.6 s · ankle-high 2-3 ft @ 12.0 s 8.4kt onshore Partly cloudy · 70.3°F Exposure estimate
TUE OCT 27
Tue, 10/27 Morning 2 to under 4 ft 2-3 ft @ 9.2 s · waist-high 3-4 ft @ 11.6 s 1.4kt offshore Overcast · 64.1°F Exposure estimate
Tue, 10/27 Evening 2 to under 4 ft 2-3 ft @ 8.9 s · waist-high 2-3 ft @ 12.0 s 7.4kt onshore Overcast · 68.3°F Exposure estimate
WED OCT 28
Wed, 10/28 Morning 2 to under 4 ft 2-3 ft @ 12.4 s · waist-high 3-4 ft @ 12.5 s 1.8kt sideshore Overcast · 64°F Exposure estimate
Wed, 10/28 Evening 2 to under 4 ft 3-4 ft @ 11.9 s · chest-to-head 3-4 ft @ 12.6 s 6.4kt onshore Overcast · 68.5°F Exposure estimate
THU OCT 29
Thu, 10/29 Morning 2 to under 4 ft 3-4 ft @ 11.8 s · chest-to-head 3-4 ft @ 12.1 s 0.7kt offshore Overcast · 65.5°F Exposure estimate
Thu, 10/29 Evening 2 to under 4 ft 3-4 ft @ 11.4 s · chest-to-head 3-4 ft @ 11.6 s 7.4kt onshore Overcast · 68.2°F Exposure estimate
Surf is an unvalidated breaking-wave estimate; offshore wave height is not surf height. Each height carries the period of its own source: the Surf period comes from the sample the breaking estimate was computed from, the Offshore swell period from the wave model's own row. A period shown as – is one the source did not supply. No calibrated accuracy percentage is available. Wind is the atmospheric weather forecast, not wind-wave direction.
Forecast sources & timestamps3 sources
  • Surf estimateTarline exposure window model on Open-Meteo Marine

    request coordinates 35.37,-120.86

    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    Computed here from the modeled offshore swell and wind sea for this beach's hour, screened by the beach's exposure windows. Modeled throughout, with no measurement at the beach. The upstream model issue time was not recorded with these data, so issuance is unknown. Rows in this table are valid for different forecast hours, so no single valid time is shown here; read the row's own Day and Time of day.

    Open the Tarline exposure window model on Open-Meteo Marine source ↗
  • Wave forecastOpen-Meteo Marine API

    request coordinates 35.37,-120.86

    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    Modeled open-water wave forecast requested at rounded coordinates, not a beach measurement. These coordinates identify Tarline's request, not necessarily the provider's returned model cell. The upstream model issue time was not recorded with these data, so issuance is unknown. Rows in this table are valid for different forecast hours, so no single valid time is shown here; read the row's own Day and Time of day.

    Open the Open-Meteo Marine API source ↗
  • WeatherOpen-Meteo Forecast API

    Requested at 35.3733, -120.8642

    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    Modeled hourly weather for this beach's coordinates, not a reading from an instrument at the beach. The upstream model issue time was not recorded with these data, so issuance is unknown. Rows in this table are valid for different forecast hours, so no single valid time is shown here; read the row's own Day and Time of day.

    Open the Open-Meteo Forecast API source ↗

All times are Pacific. An upstream issue time is shown only when recorded. A feed response time is not the provider's model initialization or publication time. Unlisted timestamps were not recorded or do not apply.

Breaking surf and offshore swellOffshore buoy: Santa Maria · NDBC 46011
Offshore buoy, latest measurementno observed readingNext estimated breaking face6-7 ft @ 9.7 s · Wed, Oct 21, 9:00 AM
Estimated Breaking Face, Not Offshore Wave Height

No exact beach-reported face heights in the latest reports. Hovering an estimated-face point states the period of the sample that height was modeled from. The report form does not collect a wave period, so a crowd report's height says the period was not reported rather than borrowing the forecast's.

NESW
Swell from
280° W forecast
Offshore height
unknown observed and forecast span 2.7 to 5.6 ft
Dominant period
unknown
Beach faces
260° W dashed on compass
Offshore Wave Height, Observed And Forecast
Dominant Period, Observed And Forecast

Solid left of NOW: buoy measurements. Dashed right of NOW: wave-model forecast. Offshore significant wave height, not breaking face.

Swell Direction, Every 6h
Arrows point the way the swell is heading; the reading is the bearing it comes from, 0° = north. No direction reported in 43 of 57 samples.

Community evidence

Tar & Oil Conditions

Scores summarize recent beach reports, not a water-quality test. No reports means unknown, not clean.

Tar/Oil Score, 0 To 10 (10 = Clean)
no data
No tar/oil scores on record for the last 7 days.

Nothing to plot: no field reports have been scored for this beach in this window. An empty 0-10 lane would look the same as a clean beach, so none is drawn.

Read the individual tar/oil observations behind these scores, or use Research to compare and export historical records.

What people actually saw

Tar & Oil Observations

Up to 20 recent reports at this beach. These are crowd reports, not live instruments.

No reports yet for this beach.

Looking further back? Explore and export historical observations in Research →

Today · the week ahead

Weather Outlook

Hourly temperature, wind and sky forecasts, with daylight and lunar context.

60°Fovercast3 ktEgust 4 ktUV 0Humidity 74%1012 mbSunrise 7:15 AMSunset 6:20 PM
Today, Hour By Hour
Sky By Hour
Wind Direction, Hourly
Arrows point the way the wind is heading; the reading is the bearing it comes from, 0° = north.
TodayUV 5 ModerateSunrise 7:15 AMSunset 6:20 PMMoonrise 3:56 PMMoonset 2:30 AM Waxing Gibbousapprox. next full moon Oct 27
Weather sources & timestamps3 sources
  • WeatherOpen-Meteo Forecast API

    Requested at 35.3733, -120.8642

    Valid for
    the time this forecast or prediction describes, not when it was made
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    Modeled hourly weather for this beach's coordinates, not a reading from an instrument at the beach. The upstream model issue time was not recorded with these data, so issuance is unknown.

    Open the Open-Meteo Forecast API source ↗
  • Water temperatureNDBC, NOAA

    Diablo Canyon (46215)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    One instrument's own reading, selected independently of the wave station. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this field's provider and product, not response completion or the age of the reading.

    Open the NDBC, NOAA source ↗
  • Sun and moonSunCalc, calculated locally

    35.3733, -120.8642

    Calculated
    the recorded time of the local calculation

    SunCalc computes sun and moon rise/set times from the Pacific date and beach coordinates, assuming an unobstructed horizon. Moon phase depends on date and time, not the beach location. No feed or beach sensor is involved; terrain and atmospheric conditions affect visible rise/set times. Sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset and phase are calculated per Pacific calendar day for 7 days from this one.

    Open the SunCalc, calculated locally source ↗

All times are Pacific. An upstream issue time is shown only when recorded. A feed response time is not the provider's model initialization or publication time. Unlisted timestamps were not recorded or do not apply.

Water reference: Diablo Canyon · 46215 . Latest prior accepted buoy measurement at each hour, at most three hours old—not a shoreline thermometer or a water-temperature forecast.

Air and wind: Open-Meteo forecasts, not beach instruments. Coastal terrain and the marine layer can differ from the model grid. Compare the official NWS point forecast →

Instrument observations

Nearby Buoys

Nearby stations and configured reference sites with current usable readings. Measurements describe conditions at the instrument, not breaking surf on this beach. The map includes the wider station catalog.

Santa Maria

NDBC 46011
Reporting

Moored buoy · 50 km from this beach · 416 m depth

last observation Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM

Significant wave height
6.6 ft observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:20 PM · NDBC 46011
Dominant period
14.0 s observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:20 PM · NDBC 46011
Average period
10.2 s observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:20 PM · NDBC 46011
Mean wave direction
NW 306° observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:20 PM · NDBC 46011
Water temperature
68.7 °F observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · NDBC 46011
Wind
3.9 kt observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · NDBC 46011
Gust
5.8 kt observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · NDBC 46011
Wind direction
SE 130° observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · NDBC 46011
Air temperature
64.8 °F observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · NDBC 46011

Significant wave height is the total measured sea state at this mooring, not the height breaking at this beach. The modeled breaking estimate is on the Surf tab.

No accepted directional spectrum from the past 90 minutes is available, so no partitions are shown.

Station sources & timestamps3 sources
  • Latest station reportNDBC, NOAA

    Santa Maria (46011)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    Latest report received from this physical station; individual fields can have older observation times. This is the recorded start of the most recent successful live poll across this station's products, not response completion or proof that every field refreshed.

    Open the NDBC, NOAA source ↗
  • Offshore swellNDBC, NOAA

    Santa Maria (46011)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    One instrument's own reading of open water, selected independently of the water temperature station. The observation time is the oldest of the wave fields shown, so it can overstate a single field's age but never understate it. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this field's provider and product, not response completion or the age of the reading.

    Open the NDBC, NOAA source ↗
  • Water temperatureNDBC, NOAA

    Santa Maria (46011)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    One instrument's own reading, selected independently of the wave station. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this field's provider and product, not response completion or the age of the reading.

    Open the NDBC, NOAA source ↗

All times are Pacific. An upstream issue time is shown only when recorded. A feed response time is not the provider's model initialization or publication time. Unlisted timestamps were not recorded or do not apply.

Diablo Canyon

NDBC 46215 · CDIP 076
Reporting

Moored buoy · 18.9 km from this beach · 27 m depth

last observation Oct 20, 2026, 11:58 PM

Significant wave height
5.8 ft observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · CDIP 076
Dominant period
12.5 s observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · CDIP 076
Average period
10.8 s observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · CDIP 076
Mean wave direction
W 271° observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · CDIP 076
Water temperature
67.5 °F observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:58 PM · CDIP 076
Wind
– kt not in the latest transmission
Gust
– kt not in the latest transmission
Wind direction
– not in the latest transmission
Air temperature
– °F not in the latest transmission

Significant wave height is the total measured sea state at this mooring, not the height breaking at this beach. The modeled breaking estimate is on the Surf tab.

Partitions, computed here Where these partitions come from Tarline splits this station's own directional wave spectrum into a swell part and a wind sea part. The split is this site's computation, not a provider product, and it is deliberately conservative: two parts, not a list of named swell trains. Variances add and heights do not, so the combined figure below is 4 times the square root of the total variance rather than a sum of the partition heights.
  • Swell 5.8 ft @ 12.5s energy period 12.2 s from W 271°

Partitions combine to 5.8 ft significant height , against 5.8 ft measured at the station. Spectrum sampled Oct 20, 11:30 PM.

Station sources & timestamps4 sources
  • Latest station reportNDBC, NOAA

    Diablo Canyon (46215)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    Latest report received from this physical station; individual fields can have older observation times. This is the recorded start of the most recent successful live poll across this station's products, not response completion or proof that every field refreshed.

    Open the NDBC, NOAA source ↗
  • Offshore swellCDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

    Diablo Canyon (46215)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    One instrument's own reading of open water, selected independently of the water temperature station. The observation time is the oldest of the wave fields shown, so it can overstate a single field's age but never understate it. Read through CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography as 076. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this field's provider and product, not response completion or the age of the reading.

    Open the CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography source ↗
  • Water temperatureCDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

    Diablo Canyon (46215)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    One instrument's own reading, selected independently of the wave station. Read through CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography as 076. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this field's provider and product, not response completion or the age of the reading.

    Open the CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography source ↗
  • Directional wave spectrumCDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

    Diablo Canyon (46215)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    Wave systems are partitioned from this measured spectrum. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this provider's spectral product, not response completion. Spectra are retained for 72 hours.

    Open the CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography source ↗

All times are Pacific. An upstream issue time is shown only when recorded. A feed response time is not the provider's model initialization or publication time. Unlisted timestamps were not recorded or do not apply.

Avila Beach Nearshore

CDIP 285
Reporting

Moored buoy · 26 km from this beach · 15 m depth

last observation Oct 20, 2026, 11:58 PM

Significant wave height
2.7 ft observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · CDIP 285
Dominant period
13.3 s observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · CDIP 285
Average period
11.3 s observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · CDIP 285
Mean wave direction
SSW 210° observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · CDIP 285
Water temperature
67.1 °F observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:58 PM · CDIP 285
Wind
– kt not in the latest transmission
Gust
– kt not in the latest transmission
Wind direction
– not in the latest transmission
Air temperature
– °F not in the latest transmission

Significant wave height is the total measured sea state at this mooring, not the height breaking at this beach. The modeled breaking estimate is on the Surf tab.

Partitions, computed here Where these partitions come from Tarline splits this station's own directional wave spectrum into a swell part and a wind sea part. The split is this site's computation, not a provider product, and it is deliberately conservative: two parts, not a list of named swell trains. Variances add and heights do not, so the combined figure below is 4 times the square root of the total variance rather than a sum of the partition heights.
  • Swell 2.7 ft @ 13.3s energy period 12.9 s from SSW 207°

Partitions combine to 2.7 ft significant height , against 2.7 ft measured at the station. Spectrum sampled Oct 20, 11:30 PM.

Station sources & timestamps4 sources
  • Latest station reportCDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

    Avila Beach Nearshore (285)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    Latest report received from this physical station; individual fields can have older observation times. This is the recorded start of the most recent successful live poll across this station's products, not response completion or proof that every field refreshed.

    Open the CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography source ↗
  • Offshore swellCDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

    Avila Beach Nearshore (285)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    One instrument's own reading of open water, selected independently of the water temperature station. The observation time is the oldest of the wave fields shown, so it can overstate a single field's age but never understate it. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this field's provider and product, not response completion or the age of the reading.

    Open the CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography source ↗
  • Water temperatureCDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

    Avila Beach Nearshore (285)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    One instrument's own reading, selected independently of the wave station. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this field's provider and product, not response completion or the age of the reading.

    Open the CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography source ↗
  • Directional wave spectrumCDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

    Avila Beach Nearshore (285)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    Wave systems are partitioned from this measured spectrum. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this provider's spectral product, not response completion. Spectra are retained for 72 hours.

    Open the CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography source ↗

All times are Pacific. An upstream issue time is shown only when recorded. A feed response time is not the provider's model initialization or publication time. Unlisted timestamps were not recorded or do not apply.

Avila Beach Nearshore

NDBC 46286 · CDIP 285
Reporting

Moored buoy · 26 km from this beach · 15 m depth

last observation Oct 20, 2026, 11:58 PM

Significant wave height
2.7 ft observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · CDIP 285
Dominant period
13.3 s observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · CDIP 285
Average period
11.3 s observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · CDIP 285
Mean wave direction
SSW 210° observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · CDIP 285
Water temperature
67.1 °F observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:58 PM · CDIP 285
Wind
– kt not in the latest transmission
Gust
– kt not in the latest transmission
Wind direction
– not in the latest transmission
Air temperature
– °F not in the latest transmission

Significant wave height is the total measured sea state at this mooring, not the height breaking at this beach. The modeled breaking estimate is on the Surf tab.

Partitions, computed here Where these partitions come from Tarline splits this station's own directional wave spectrum into a swell part and a wind sea part. The split is this site's computation, not a provider product, and it is deliberately conservative: two parts, not a list of named swell trains. Variances add and heights do not, so the combined figure below is 4 times the square root of the total variance rather than a sum of the partition heights.
  • Swell 2.7 ft @ 13.3s energy period 12.9 s from SSW 207°

Partitions combine to 2.7 ft significant height , against 2.7 ft measured at the station. Spectrum sampled Oct 20, 11:30 PM.

Station sources & timestamps4 sources
  • Latest station reportNDBC, NOAA

    Avila Beach Nearshore (46286)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    Latest report received from this physical station; individual fields can have older observation times. This is the recorded start of the most recent successful live poll across this station's products, not response completion or proof that every field refreshed.

    Open the NDBC, NOAA source ↗
  • Offshore swellCDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

    Avila Beach Nearshore (46286)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    One instrument's own reading of open water, selected independently of the water temperature station. The observation time is the oldest of the wave fields shown, so it can overstate a single field's age but never understate it. Read through CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography as 285. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this field's provider and product, not response completion or the age of the reading.

    Open the CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography source ↗
  • Water temperatureCDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

    Avila Beach Nearshore (46286)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    One instrument's own reading, selected independently of the wave station. Read through CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography as 285. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this field's provider and product, not response completion or the age of the reading.

    Open the CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography source ↗
  • Directional wave spectrumCDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

    Avila Beach Nearshore (46286)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    Wave systems are partitioned from this measured spectrum. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this provider's spectral product, not response completion. Spectra are retained for 72 hours.

    Open the CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography source ↗

All times are Pacific. An upstream issue time is shown only when recorded. A feed response time is not the provider's model initialization or publication time. Unlisted timestamps were not recorded or do not apply.

Santa Lucia Escarpment

NDBC 46259 · CDIP 222
Reporting

Moored buoy · 87.7 km from this beach · 650 m depth

last observation Oct 20, 2026, 11:58 PM

Significant wave height
7.1 ft observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · CDIP 222
Dominant period
13.3 s observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · CDIP 222
Average period
10.9 s observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · CDIP 222
Mean wave direction
NW 314° observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · CDIP 222
Water temperature
69.3 °F observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:58 PM · CDIP 222
Wind
– kt not in the latest transmission
Gust
– kt not in the latest transmission
Wind direction
– not in the latest transmission
Air temperature
– °F not in the latest transmission

Significant wave height is the total measured sea state at this mooring, not the height breaking at this beach. The modeled breaking estimate is on the Surf tab.

Partitions, computed here Where these partitions come from Tarline splits this station's own directional wave spectrum into a swell part and a wind sea part. The split is this site's computation, not a provider product, and it is deliberately conservative: two parts, not a list of named swell trains. Variances add and heights do not, so the combined figure below is 4 times the square root of the total variance rather than a sum of the partition heights.
  • Swell 7.1 ft @ 13.3s energy period 12.3 s from WNW 301°

Partitions combine to 7.1 ft significant height , against 7.1 ft measured at the station. Spectrum sampled Oct 20, 11:30 PM.

Station sources & timestamps4 sources
  • Latest station reportNDBC, NOAA

    Santa Lucia Escarpment (46259)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    Latest report received from this physical station; individual fields can have older observation times. This is the recorded start of the most recent successful live poll across this station's products, not response completion or proof that every field refreshed.

    Open the NDBC, NOAA source ↗
  • Offshore swellCDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

    Santa Lucia Escarpment (46259)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    One instrument's own reading of open water, selected independently of the water temperature station. The observation time is the oldest of the wave fields shown, so it can overstate a single field's age but never understate it. Read through CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography as 222. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this field's provider and product, not response completion or the age of the reading.

    Open the CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography source ↗
  • Water temperatureCDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

    Santa Lucia Escarpment (46259)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    One instrument's own reading, selected independently of the wave station. Read through CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography as 222. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this field's provider and product, not response completion or the age of the reading.

    Open the CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography source ↗
  • Directional wave spectrumCDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

    Santa Lucia Escarpment (46259)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    Wave systems are partitioned from this measured spectrum. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this provider's spectral product, not response completion. Spectra are retained for 72 hours.

    Open the CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography source ↗

All times are Pacific. An upstream issue time is shown only when recorded. A feed response time is not the provider's model initialization or publication time. Unlisted timestamps were not recorded or do not apply.

Harvest

NDBC 46218 · CDIP 071
Reporting

Moored buoy · 102.8 km from this beach · 550 m depth

last observation Oct 20, 2026, 11:50 PM

Significant wave height
6.0 ft observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · CDIP 071
Dominant period
13.3 s observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · CDIP 071
Average period
11.0 s observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · CDIP 071
Mean wave direction
NW 306° observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · CDIP 071
Water temperature
68.5 °F observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:50 PM · CDIP 071
Wind
– kt not in the latest transmission
Gust
– kt not in the latest transmission
Wind direction
– not in the latest transmission
Air temperature
65.3 °F observed Oct 20, 2026, 10:56 PM · NDBC 46218

Significant wave height is the total measured sea state at this mooring, not the height breaking at this beach. The modeled breaking estimate is on the Surf tab.

Partitions, computed here Where these partitions come from Tarline splits this station's own directional wave spectrum into a swell part and a wind sea part. The split is this site's computation, not a provider product, and it is deliberately conservative: two parts, not a list of named swell trains. Variances add and heights do not, so the combined figure below is 4 times the square root of the total variance rather than a sum of the partition heights.
  • Swell 6.0 ft @ 13.3s energy period 12.5 s from WNW 296°

Partitions combine to 6 ft significant height , against 6.0 ft measured at the station. Spectrum sampled Oct 20, 11:30 PM.

Station sources & timestamps4 sources
  • Latest station reportCDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

    Harvest (071)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    Latest report received from this physical station; individual fields can have older observation times. This is the recorded start of the most recent successful live poll across this station's products, not response completion or proof that every field refreshed.

    Open the CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography source ↗
  • Offshore swellCDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

    Harvest (071)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    One instrument's own reading of open water, selected independently of the water temperature station. The observation time is the oldest of the wave fields shown, so it can overstate a single field's age but never understate it. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this field's provider and product, not response completion or the age of the reading.

    Open the CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography source ↗
  • Water temperatureCDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

    Harvest (071)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    One instrument's own reading, selected independently of the wave station. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this field's provider and product, not response completion or the age of the reading.

    Open the CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography source ↗
  • Directional wave spectrumCDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

    Harvest (071)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    Wave systems are partitioned from this measured spectrum. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this provider's spectral product, not response completion. Spectra are retained for 72 hours.

    Open the CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography source ↗

All times are Pacific. An upstream issue time is shown only when recorded. A feed response time is not the provider's model initialization or publication time. Unlisted timestamps were not recorded or do not apply.

Cape San Martin

NDBC 46028
Reporting

Moored buoy · 103.2 km from this beach · 1136 m depth

last observation Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM

Significant wave height
7.2 ft observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:20 PM · NDBC 46028
Dominant period
11.0 s observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:20 PM · NDBC 46028
Average period
10.7 s observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:20 PM · NDBC 46028
Mean wave direction
NW 313° observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:20 PM · NDBC 46028
Water temperature
63.0 °F observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · NDBC 46028
Wind
1.9 kt observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · NDBC 46028
Gust
3.9 kt observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · NDBC 46028
Wind direction
E 100° observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · NDBC 46028
Air temperature
61.2 °F observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · NDBC 46028

Significant wave height is the total measured sea state at this mooring, not the height breaking at this beach. The modeled breaking estimate is on the Surf tab.

No accepted directional spectrum from the past 90 minutes is available, so no partitions are shown.

Station sources & timestamps3 sources
  • Latest station reportNDBC, NOAA

    Cape San Martin (46028)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    Latest report received from this physical station; individual fields can have older observation times. This is the recorded start of the most recent successful live poll across this station's products, not response completion or proof that every field refreshed.

    Open the NDBC, NOAA source ↗
  • Offshore swellNDBC, NOAA

    Cape San Martin (46028)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    One instrument's own reading of open water, selected independently of the water temperature station. The observation time is the oldest of the wave fields shown, so it can overstate a single field's age but never understate it. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this field's provider and product, not response completion or the age of the reading.

    Open the NDBC, NOAA source ↗
  • Water temperatureNDBC, NOAA

    Cape San Martin (46028)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    One instrument's own reading, selected independently of the wave station. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this field's provider and product, not response completion or the age of the reading.

    Open the NDBC, NOAA source ↗

All times are Pacific. An upstream issue time is shown only when recorded. A feed response time is not the provider's model initialization or publication time. Unlisted timestamps were not recorded or do not apply.

West Santa Barbara

NDBC 46054
Reporting

Moored buoy · 127.5 km from this beach · 454 m depth

last observation Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM

Significant wave height
4.9 ft observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:20 PM · NDBC 46054
Dominant period
14.0 s observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:20 PM · NDBC 46054
Average period
9.5 s observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:20 PM · NDBC 46054
Mean wave direction
WNW 297° observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:20 PM · NDBC 46054
Water temperature
69.8 °F observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · NDBC 46054
Wind
7.8 kt observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · NDBC 46054
Gust
11.7 kt observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · NDBC 46054
Wind direction
S 180° observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · NDBC 46054
Air temperature
– °F not in the latest transmission

Significant wave height is the total measured sea state at this mooring, not the height breaking at this beach. The modeled breaking estimate is on the Surf tab.

No accepted directional spectrum from the past 90 minutes is available, so no partitions are shown.

Station sources & timestamps3 sources
  • Latest station reportNDBC, NOAA

    West Santa Barbara (46054)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    Latest report received from this physical station; individual fields can have older observation times. This is the recorded start of the most recent successful live poll across this station's products, not response completion or proof that every field refreshed.

    Open the NDBC, NOAA source ↗
  • Offshore swellNDBC, NOAA

    West Santa Barbara (46054)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    One instrument's own reading of open water, selected independently of the water temperature station. The observation time is the oldest of the wave fields shown, so it can overstate a single field's age but never understate it. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this field's provider and product, not response completion or the age of the reading.

    Open the NDBC, NOAA source ↗
  • Water temperatureNDBC, NOAA

    West Santa Barbara (46054)

    Observed
    when the instrument took this reading
    Successful fetch
    recorded time for the last accepted fetch; not proof the value changed (see source timing details below)

    One instrument's own reading, selected independently of the wave station. The fetch timestamp records the start of a successful poll of this field's provider and product, not response completion or the age of the reading.

    Open the NDBC, NOAA source ↗

All times are Pacific. An upstream issue time is shown only when recorded. A feed response time is not the provider's model initialization or publication time. Unlisted timestamps were not recorded or do not apply.

Experimental

Multi-buoy surf candidate, shadow run

What a shadow candidate is A second, unvalidated surf estimate computed from several buoys' directional spectra. It runs alongside the model this page shows so the two can be compared over time. It does not set the surf figure, the forecast table or any score on this site, and no accuracy has been established for it. A difference between the two is agreement between two models, which is not the same thing as either one being right.
Candidate, shadow only 8.0 ft
Production model, same run 6.8 ft window-model
Agreement gap, not accuracy +1.2 ft candidate minus the production model at that run

Stations used: Diablo Canyon, Santa Maria, Santa Lucia Escarpment, Harvest, Cape San Martin, West Santa Barbara

  • exposure: curated arcs at every frequency; bins at or above 0.09 Hz are UNSCREENED (no coastline geometry supplied)
  • 1 provider alias observation(s) collapsed before weighting
  • 46286: alias-duplicate -- same physical site as 285; provider aliases are one instrument, not independent evidence
  • 285: nearshore-transformed -- nearshore at this period (h/L0 0.06): a transformed nearshore record, not offshore forcing

Computed Oct 21, 12:03 AM · buoy-spectrum-shadow-3

Panel assembled Wed, Oct 21, 2026, 12:07 AM PDT. That is not how fresh any station reading is.

Public incident records

Nearby Incident Reports

Records within 25 km. Proximity alone does not establish the source of tar at this beach.

Select a record to read in full.

Browse incident archive

Last 90 days 3

  1. NRC raw About NRC reports Unverified initial reports. NRC publishes caller reports, not findings validated by a response agency. The feed does not provide a verified/unverified status for individual records. NRC's explanation ↗ Caller reported that an aircraft went down 6 miles offshore in the pacific ocean. The pilot evacuated due to mechanical problems. Caller reported that 900 gallons of diesel were believed to be onboard. No reported sheen but they did report a strong diesel odor in the area. 9.9 km away
  2. IncidentNews Plane Crash off Morro Bay; Morro Bay, California 10.4 km away

    On the evening of September 22, 2026, a Hunter Hawk jet crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Morro Bay, California. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) contacted the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC), requesting a trajectory analysis for 977 gallons of JP-5 (Jet Propellant-5). Additional information is unavailable at this time.

    Original record
  3. NRC raw About NRC reports Unverified initial reports. NRC publishes caller reports, not findings validated by a response agency. The feed does not provide a verified/unverified status for individual records. NRC's explanation ↗ The caller stated that a vessel was discovered to be sinking at the location. Because of this an unknown oil and gasoline were released in the estero bay. 5.3 km away
Show older records Hide older records 2 More than 90 days ago
  1. IncidentNews P/C Fire Fly; 1.7nm off Morro Bay, CA 4.3 km away

    At 2340hrs on 25NOV2009, the 30’ P/C Fire Fly sank 1.7nautical miles off Morro Bay, CA in 150’ of water. USCG Sector LA/LB contacted the NOAA SSC and requested oil fate and trajectory support.

    Original record
  2. IncidentNews Morro Bay Ammonia Leak; Morro Bay, CA 1.2 km away

    The NOAA SSC was notified by MSO LALB at 0330 this morning of an anhydrous ammonia leak from a fish processor tank in Morro Bay, CA. Evidently the leak started at about 1600 on 03OCT01, when the valve was ruptured by a vehicle. The MSO reported that the local fire department was responding and planned to evacuate within a 0.5 mile radius of the area at 0700 this morning to complete the response. The MSO asked the SSC to provide information on how large a footprint the gas might make, to confirm that a 0.5 mile radius was appropriate and for some information about the behavior of this compound and health and safety concerns. USCG district 9.

    Original record