SANTA MARIA - 21NM NW of Point Arguello, CA (46011) — Live Marine Conditions & Buoy Data
NOAA station 46011, SANTA MARIA - 21NM NW of Point Arguello, CA, reports real-time marine conditions from 34.937°N, 120.999°W in the eastern North Pacific (California). Readings refresh roughly every 10 minutes, and Big Buoy adds 7-day tide predictions, a solunar table, and a multi-day weather outlook for the area.
Current conditions at SANTA MARIA - 21NM NW of Point Arguello, CA
As of October 19, 2026 at 20:30 UTC, SANTA MARIA - 21NM NW of Point Arguello, CA (46011) is reporting water temperature 70°F, air temperature 64°F, wave height 7.5 ft at a 14-second dominant period, wind from the NW at 13 mph gusting 18 mph, and barometric pressure 29.96 inHg.
- Water temperature
- 70°F
- Air temperature
- 64°F
- Wave height
- 7.5 ft @ 14 s
- Wind
- NW 13 mph (gust 18)
- Barometric pressure
- 29.96 inHg
Observed October 19, 2026 at 20:30 UTC from NOAA NDBC station 46011. Readings update about every 10 minutes.
What NOAA buoy 46011 measures
As a NOAA meteorological station, 46011 reports wind speed, gusts and direction, barometric pressure, air and water temperature, and — where wave sensors are fitted — significant wave height, swell period, and wave direction.
What to watch in the eastern North Pacific
The U.S. Pacific coast is dominated by long-period groundswell and strong seasonal upwelling that keeps nearshore water cold. Watch swell period as closely as wave height — a long-period west swell can make harbor entrances and bar crossings hazardous even when the wave height looks modest.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the water temperature at Santa Maria?
- Sea surface temperature at Santa Maria was 70°F. Measured October 19, 2026 at 20:30 UTC by NOAA station 46011 (SANTA MARIA - 21NM NW of Point Arguello, CA). NDBC measures this near the surface, at a depth that varies by station.
- What is the air temperature at Santa Maria?
- Air temperature at Santa Maria was 64°F. Measured October 19, 2026 at 20:30 UTC by NOAA station 46011 (SANTA MARIA - 21NM NW of Point Arguello, CA).
- What is the wind doing at Santa Maria?
- Wind at Santa Maria was from the NW at 13 mph, with peak gusts to 18 mph. Measured October 19, 2026 at 20:30 UTC by NOAA station 46011 (SANTA MARIA - 21NM NW of Point Arguello, CA). NDBC records wind at the station’s anemometer height, which is not the 10 m height used in marine forecasts.
- How big are the waves at Santa Maria?
- Significant wave height at Santa Maria was 7.5 ft, with a 14-second dominant period. Measured October 19, 2026 at 20:30 UTC by NOAA station 46011 (SANTA MARIA - 21NM NW of Point Arguello, CA). Significant wave height is the average of the highest one-third of waves — individual waves can be larger.
- Which direction are the waves coming from at Santa Maria?
- Waves at Santa Maria were arriving from 258° true (WSW) at the dominant period. Measured October 19, 2026 at 20:30 UTC by NOAA station 46011 (SANTA MARIA - 21NM NW of Point Arguello, CA).
- What is the barometric pressure at Santa Maria?
- Sea-level pressure at Santa Maria was 29.96 inHg (1014.5 hPa). Measured October 19, 2026 at 20:30 UTC by NOAA station 46011 (SANTA MARIA - 21NM NW of Point Arguello, CA). NDBC reports pressure reduced to sea level rather than the raw reading at the station.
- What is the swell at Santa Maria?
- The swell at Santa Maria had a significant height of 6.9 ft at a 14-second peak period, arriving from the WSW. Measured October 19, 2026 at 20:10 UTC by NOAA station 46011 (SANTA MARIA - 21NM NW of Point Arguello, CA). NDBC separates swell from locally generated wind waves using a spectral estimate.
- How much wind chop is at Santa Maria?
- The wind-wave component at Santa Maria had a significant height of 3.0 ft at a 6-second peak period, from the NW. Measured October 19, 2026 at 20:10 UTC by NOAA station 46011 (SANTA MARIA - 21NM NW of Point Arguello, CA). Swell and wind-wave heights combine in quadrature, not by addition.
- Is it swell or wind chop at Santa Maria?
- NDBC classified the sea state at Santa Maria as swell, with a significant wave height of 7.5 ft. Measured October 19, 2026 at 20:10 UTC by NOAA station 46011 (SANTA MARIA - 21NM NW of Point Arguello, CA). The classification describes wave steepness relative to period, not wave size.
- Where is NOAA buoy 46011 located?
- SANTA MARIA - 21NM NW of Point Arguello, CA (46011) reports from 34.937°N, 120.999°W in the eastern North Pacific (California).
- How often is NOAA buoy 46011 updated?
- Station 46011 typically reports new observations about every 10 minutes. Big Buoy refreshes continuously so you always see the latest readings, alongside 7-day tide predictions and a solunar table for the area.
- What does NOAA buoy 46011 measure?
- Big Buoy shows wind, barometric pressure, air and water temperature, and wave height and period where available for SANTA MARIA - 21NM NW of Point Arguello, CA, plus 7-day tides, solunar peak windows, and a multi-day weather outlook.
- Is Big Buoy free to use?
- Yes. Live data for SANTA MARIA - 21NM NW of Point Arguello, CA and every other NOAA buoy is free with no account required. Big Buoy Pro adds the Wind Tab, the Depth Chart, satellite overlays (sea surface temp, chlorophyll, currents), 16-day forecasts, and forecast model switching.