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Reporting at Santa Cruz Main Beach
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Santa Cruz Main Beach

TAR/OIL 7.8/10 0 reports today Β· last 3 days ago
Tar/Oil scores 0–10 Β· 10 clean
7.8 Sand
10.0 Water
Surf
SURF – Β· –
Offshore swell –
Wind
4.2 kt
offshore Β· NE
Tide ft MLLW
L 10:13 AM
now 2.1 ft falling Β· next L 2.0 Β· 10:13 AM
Temps
– Water
56.1Β°F Air

Tar/Oil Conditions

TAR/OIL SCORE (0-10 Β· 10 = clean) Β· 7 DAYSHow scoring works β†’
now 7.8

Surf

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

more in Research β†’

Weather

Weather
56.1Β°Fsunny4.2 ktUV 0Sunrise 6:42 AM Β· Sunset 7:30 PM
Today, hour by hour
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Wind direction
Sat 12 AM
Sat 4 AM
Sat 8 AM
Sat 12 PM
Sat 4 PM
Sat 8 PM
TodayUV 7 HighSunrise 6:42 AMSunset 7:30 PMMoonrise 12:17 AMMoonset 4:02 PM🌘 Waning Crescentnext full moon Sep 27

Live Observations

Jul 18, 6:23 AM anon Dry sand Black line Sporadic 1-10% Balls Slab Hard None – C
Jul 17, 6:06 PM anon Dry sand Clean Trace <1% Balls Coin Hard – – B
Jul 14, 10:06 AM ellwood_erin Dry sand Clean Sporadic 1-10% Balls – Hard – – A
Jul 13, 2:57 PM anon Waterline Clean Trace <1% Balls Coin Hard None – B
Jul 13, 2:26 PM anon Wrack line Clean Trace <1% Balls Coin Hard – – C
Jul 11, 5:50 PM anon Rocks Clean Trace <1% Film – – – – C
Jul 11, 5:24 PM anon Wrack line Clean Trace <1% Balls Coin Firm None – C
Jul 10, 6:07 PM copr_intern Wrack line Clean Trace <1% Film – – – – C
Jul 10, 8:12 AM anon Wrack line Sheen Sporadic 1-10% Balls – Firm Sheen – B
Jul 10, 6:52 AM anon Wrack line Clean Trace <1% Balls Coin Hard – – B
Jul 10, 6:15 AM anon Dry sand Sheen Trace <1% Balls Coin Sticky – – C
Jul 8, 1:35 PM anon Waterline Clean Trace <1% Balls Pea Hard None – C
Jul 8, 12:35 PM anon Dry sand Clean Sporadic 1-10% Balls Pea Hard – – A
Jul 8, 12:28 PM anon Wrack line Clean Sporadic 1-10% Balls – Hard – – A
Jul 8, 12:01 PM anon Wrack line Clean Trace <1% Film – – None – B
Jul 7, 7:31 AM anon Wrack line Clean None Balls – – None – B
Jul 6, 4:47 PM anon Wrack line Clean Trace <1% Balls Coin Firm – – B
Jul 6, 4:36 PM refugio_rae Wrack line Clean Trace <1% Balls Pea Hard None – C
Jul 6, 3:13 PM ellwood_erin Wrack line Clean Trace <1% Film – – – – A
Jul 5, 6:09 PM dr_moreno Dry sand Clean Trace <1% Film – – Sheen, Tar balls – C

16-Day Forecast

Confidence is an estimate based on forecast lead time.

Nearby Buoys

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

Photo Gallery

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Nearby Incident Reports

Jun 13, 2026 IncidentNews Sunken Fishing Vessel in Santa Cruz Harbor; Santa Cruz, California 1.4 km Source β†—
Show older (15)
Apr 20, 2026 NRC raw raw report β€” unverified: THE CALLER REPORTS THE DISCHARGING OF THEIR OIL/WATER SEPARATOR, HOWEVER THEY WERE INSIDE THEIR SANCTUARY BOUNDARY LINE INADVERTENTLY. 20.8 km β€”
Dec 27, 2025 NRC raw raw report β€” unverified: CALLER STATES THEY HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE NOTIFICATIONS OF BLACK TAR PATTIES & TAR BALLS RANGING FROM .5"-7.5" WITH A GOOEY CARAMEL/MARSHMAL… 9.3 km β€”
Oct 26, 2025 NRC raw raw report β€” unverified: THE CALLER REPORTED THAT A CAR WAS BACKING UP AND BROKE THROUGH A BARRIER AND WENT INTO MONTEREY BAY. A SHEEN WAS REPORTED FROM A RELEASE OF… 0.6 km β€”
Oct 3, 2025 NRC raw raw report β€” unverified: THE CALLER REPORTED THAT A PLEASURE CRAFT VESSEL CAPSIZED IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN. NO MATERIALS HAVE BEEN RELEASED AND NO SHEEN WAS OBSERVED, B… 16.4 km β€”
Jul 16, 2025 NRC raw raw report β€” unverified: /// POTENTIAL RELEASE /// THE CALLER STATED THAT A VESSEL CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO STACKS ON THE VESSEL. BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT, THERE IS A P… 6.3 km β€”
Mar 22, 2022 IncidentNews Sailing Vessel Sunk Off Santa Cruz, CA 4.4 km Source β†—
Aug 6, 2020 IncidentNews Humpback Whale Carcass; Santa Cruz, CA 1.6 km Source β†—
May 20, 2020 IncidentNews Gray whale carcass; Santa Cruz, CA 0.5 km Source β†—
Aug 12, 2018 IncidentNews Grounded F/V Pacific Quest; Santa Cruz, CA 4.6 km Source β†—
Jul 1, 2018 IncidentNews Broken up vessel "Dickey Byrd"; Santa Cruz, CA, USA 7.4 km Source β†—
Jan 5, 2016 IncidentNews Oiled birds; Monterey Bay, CA 18.3 km Source β†—
Feb 18, 2009 IncidentNews Mystery Tarballs; Santa Cruz, CA 0.5 km Source β†—
Jul 24, 2001 IncidentNews Vessel Adrift; Monterey Bay Sanctuary 3.1 km Source β†—
Jun 5, 1999 IncidentNews Spill off California Coast; Davenport, California 18.5 km Source β†—
Oct 24, 1997 IncidentNews Mystery Spill/Monterey Bird Incident; Santa Cruz, California 10.5 km Source β†—