TARLINE

Tar Report for Pismo State Beach

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California coast · Central Coast

Pismo 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 37m ago
2.7 ft Height 13.3 s Period 210° SSW From
Avila Beach Nearshore 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 61.6 °F
Water 67.1 °F
Water: Avila Beach Nearshore 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.
1.7 kt gusting 3.1 kt (+1.4)
76° ENE 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 35.14,-120.64

    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

    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 ↗

  • WeatherOpen-Meteo Forecast API

    Requested at 35.1382, -120.6448

    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

    35.1382, -120.6448

    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.

Surf OutlookBreaking-face estimates and forecast → Weather OutlookHourly conditions and the week ahead → Tar & OilScores and recent evidence →

Find This Beach

© OpenStreetMap contributors© OpenMapTilesTerrain: AWS Open Data

Pismo State 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 4 to under 6 ft 5-6 ft @ 9.9 s · overhead 5-6 ft @ 12.3 s 2.8kt offshore Overcast · 62.2°F Exposure estimate
Wed, 10/21 Evening 4 to under 6 ft 5-6 ft @ 9.2 s · chest-to-head 5-6 ft @ 11.2 s 8.6kt offshore Overcast · 64.3°F Exposure estimate
THU OCT 22
Thu, 10/22 Morning 2 to under 4 ft 3-4 ft @ 7.6 s · chest-to-head 3-4 ft @ 11.0 s 7kt offshore Mostly cloudy · 58.3°F Exposure estimate
Thu, 10/22 Evening 2 to under 4 ft 3-4 ft @ 8.5 s · chest-to-head 3-4 ft @ 11.0 s 6.2kt sideshore Overcast · 64.4°F Exposure estimate
FRI OCT 23
Fri, 10/23 Morning 2 to under 4 ft 3-4 ft @ 5.6 s · chest-to-head 4-5 ft @ 9.1 s 4.4kt sideshore Clear · 60.2°F Exposure estimate
Fri, 10/23 Evening 4 to under 6 ft 4-5 ft @ 6.8 s · chest-to-head 4-5 ft @ 8.9 s 9.4kt onshore Overcast · 63.6°F Exposure estimate
SAT OCT 24
Sat, 10/24 Morning 4 to under 6 ft 4-5 ft @ 7 s · chest-to-head 4-5 ft @ 9.4 s 3.3kt offshore Clear · 63.2°F Exposure estimate
Sat, 10/24 Evening 4 to under 6 ft 4-5 ft @ 7.1 s · chest-to-head 4-5 ft @ 9.7 s 7.4kt onshore Clear · 69°F Exposure estimate
SUN OCT 25
Sun, 10/25 Morning 2 to under 4 ft 3-4 ft @ 6.7 s · chest-to-head 3-4 ft @ 10.2 s 2.2kt offshore Clear · 65.2°F Exposure estimate
Sun, 10/25 Evening 2 to under 4 ft 2-3 ft @ 6.6 s · waist-high 3-4 ft @ 10.5 s 6.5kt onshore Clear · 69.2°F Exposure estimate
MON OCT 26
Mon, 10/26 Morning Under 1 ft 0-1 ft @ – s · ankle-high 2-3 ft @ 11.7 s 1.9kt sideshore Clear · 65.4°F Exposure estimate
Mon, 10/26 Evening Under 1 ft 0-1 ft @ 0.9 s · ankle-high 2-3 ft @ 12.1 s 7.4kt onshore Partly cloudy · 69.7°F Exposure estimate
TUE OCT 27
Tue, 10/27 Morning 2 to under 4 ft 2-3 ft @ 9 s · waist-high 2-3 ft @ 11.9 s 0.4kt sideshore Mostly cloudy · 63.4°F Exposure estimate
Tue, 10/27 Evening 2 to under 4 ft 2-3 ft @ 8.9 s · waist-high 2-3 ft @ 12.2 s 6.9kt onshore Overcast · 68.2°F Exposure estimate
WED OCT 28
Wed, 10/28 Morning 2 to under 4 ft 2-3 ft @ 12.9 s · waist-high 3-4 ft @ 12.7 s 0.7kt offshore Overcast · 62.4°F Exposure estimate
Wed, 10/28 Evening 2 to under 4 ft 3-4 ft @ 12.4 s · chest-to-head 3-4 ft @ 12.7 s 5.3kt onshore Overcast · 67.9°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 @ 12.3 s 0.8kt onshore Overcast · 64.2°F Exposure estimate
Thu, 10/29 Evening 2 to under 4 ft 3-4 ft @ 11.4 s · chest-to-head 3-4 ft @ 11.7 s 6.6kt 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 35.14,-120.64

    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 35.14,-120.64

    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 35.1382, -120.6448

    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 face5-6 ft @ 9.9 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 2.6 to 5.4 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)
7 DAYSHow scoring works →
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.

Weather
62°Fovercast2 ktENEgust 3 ktUV 0Humidity 75%1012 mbSunrise 7:13 AMSunset 6:19 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 7:13 AMSunset 6:19 PMMoonrise 3:54 PMMoonset 2:30 AM Waxing Gibbousapprox. next full moon Oct 27
Weather sources & timestamps3 sources

  • WeatherOpen-Meteo Forecast API

    Requested at 35.1382, -120.6448

    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 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 ↗

  • Sun and moonSunCalc, calculated locally

    35.1382, -120.6448

    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: Avila Beach Nearshore · 285 . 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 · 39.2 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.

Station history → View on NDBC →

Avila Beach Nearshore

CDIP 285
Reporting

Moored buoy · 8.9 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.

Station history → View on CDIP →

Avila Beach Nearshore

NDBC 46286 · CDIP 285
Reporting

Moored buoy · 8.9 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.

Station history → View on NDBC →

Diablo Canyon

NDBC 46215 · CDIP 076
Reporting

Moored buoy · 20.8 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.

Station history → View on NDBC →

Harvest

NDBC 46218 · CDIP 071
Reporting

Moored buoy · 77.3 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.

Station history → View on CDIP →

Santa Lucia Escarpment

NDBC 46259 · CDIP 222
Reporting

Moored buoy · 87.1 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.

Station history → View on NDBC →

West Santa Barbara

NDBC 46054
Reporting

Moored buoy · 97.4 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.

Station history → View on NDBC →

East Santa Barbara

NDBC 46053
Reporting

Moored buoy · 123.4 km from this beach · 417 m depth

last observation Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM

Significant wave height
3.6 ft observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:20 PM · NDBC 46053
Dominant period
12.0 s observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:20 PM · NDBC 46053
Average period
8.2 s observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:20 PM · NDBC 46053
Mean wave direction
W 278° observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:20 PM · NDBC 46053
Water temperature
71.8 °F observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · NDBC 46053
Wind
3.9 kt observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · NDBC 46053
Gust
7.8 kt observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · NDBC 46053
Wind direction
WSW 240° observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · NDBC 46053
Air temperature
65.8 °F observed Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM · NDBC 46053

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

    East Santa Barbara (46053)

    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

    East Santa Barbara (46053)

    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

    East Santa Barbara (46053)

    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.

Station history → View on NDBC →

Cape San Martin

NDBC 46028
Reporting

Moored buoy · 133.2 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.

Station history → View on NDBC →
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 7.5 ft
Production model, same run 6.4 ft window-model
Agreement gap, not accuracy +1.1 ft candidate minus the production model at that run

Stations used: Diablo Canyon, Santa Maria, Harvest, Santa Lucia Escarpment, West Santa Barbara, East 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, 12:06 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 0

No incident reports within 25 km in the last 90 days.

Show older records Hide older records 4 More than 90 days ago
  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 discovery of tar-like material on the beach. 0.6 km away

    No public source page available.

  2. IncidentNews F/V Kathy Ann; Avila Beach, CA 10 km away

    On the morning of 30MAR2011, USCG Marine Safety Detachment (MSD) Santa Barbara contacted their local NOAA SSC for trajectory support on a small potential diesel spill from a fishing vessel sunk near Avila Beach, CA. The F/V Kathy Ann is a 32foot steel-hulled vessel sunk in nearshore waters approximately 20-30feet deep at 35º 09.722’N, 120º 45.060’W. No pollution has yet been observed, but due to its location nearshore, the USCG requested a precautionary trajectory in the event of a minor release prior to or during salvage operations.

    Original record
  3. IncidentNews Guadalupe Beach; Guadalupe, California 18.2 km away

    An oil production field leased and operated by the UNOCAL Corporation near Guadalupe, California, has for many years been the site of a constant release of a diesel-like substance known as diluent. The diluent, which is a mid-grade condensate product, had been injected into the production wells throughout recent decades to increase the yield from the oilfield. For economic reasons, the practice of injecting diluent into the wells replaced the use of steam during the 1950s. UNOCAL stopped injecting diluent by 1990. Either through poor injection practices or through a faulty pipeline system, diluent was released into the field in large quantities. Current estimates are that there may be as much as 8.5 million gallons of diluent located in various plumes throughout the 2,300 acre site. The diluent plumes are below ground, riding on top of the water table. USCG district 11. Keyword: bioremediation, endangered species, propane cannons, sand replacement, seafood harvesting ban, skimmers.

    Original record
  4. IncidentNews UNOCAL 76 Tank Farm; Avila Beach, San Luis Obispo Bay, California 8.1 km away

    On the evening of August 3, 1992, a transfer pipeline at the UNOCAL Tank Farm in Avila Beach, California failed. A reported 150 barrels of San Joaquin heavy crude were pumped through a hole roughly 10 by 5 inches before pumping operations could be stopped. The crude oil flowed downhill through a gully and over a 30-foot bedrock cliff into the Pacific Ocean. UNOCAL Oil Company reported the incident to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Group Monterey, who in turn reported to USCG Marine Safety Office (MSO) San Francisco. UNOCAL assumed responsibility for the incident and called in the services of the local cooperative, Clean Seas, to mitigate the spill. The USCG Captain of the Port assumed the role of Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC). USCG district 11. Keyword: absorbent pads, boom, California Department of Fish and Game, Clean Seas Inc., containment boom, fog, high-pressure washing, high-pressure warm-water washing, International Bird Rescue and Research Center, low-pressure washing, oil snares, Pacific Strike Team, pompoms, shallow water recovery, skimmers, sorbent boom, sorbent pompoms, vegetation cutting, volunteers, weir/pump skimmer.

    Original record