SAN FRANCISCO - 18NM West of San Francisco, CA (46026) — Live Marine Conditions & Buoy Data
NOAA station 46026, SAN FRANCISCO - 18NM West of San Francisco, CA, reports real-time marine conditions from 37.750°N, 122.838°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.
San Francisco Bay Marine Conditions — SAN FRANCISCO - 18NM West of San Francisco, CA is one of several stations in San Francisco Bay. See live tides, buoy data, and solunar for the whole area.
Current conditions at SAN FRANCISCO - 18NM West of San Francisco, CA
As of October 19, 2026 at 19:00 UTC, SAN FRANCISCO - 18NM West of San Francisco, CA (46026) is reporting water temperature 60°F, wave height 5.9 ft at a 12-second dominant period, wind from the NW at 9 mph gusting 11 mph, and barometric pressure 29.98 inHg.
- Water temperature
- 60°F
- Wave height
- 5.9 ft @ 12 s
- Wind
- NW 9 mph (gust 11)
- Barometric pressure
- 29.98 inHg
Observed October 19, 2026 at 19:00 UTC from NOAA NDBC station 46026. Readings update about every 10 minutes.
What NOAA buoy 46026 measures
As a NOAA meteorological station, 46026 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 San Francisco?
- Sea surface temperature at San Francisco was 60°F. Measured October 19, 2026 at 19:00 UTC by NOAA station 46026 (SAN FRANCISCO - 18NM West of San Francisco, CA). NDBC measures this near the surface, at a depth that varies by station.
- What is the wind doing at San Francisco?
- Wind at San Francisco was from the NW at 9 mph, with peak gusts to 11 mph. Measured October 19, 2026 at 19:00 UTC by NOAA station 46026 (SAN FRANCISCO - 18NM West of San Francisco, 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 San Francisco?
- Significant wave height at San Francisco was 5.9 ft, with a 12-second dominant period. Measured October 19, 2026 at 19:00 UTC by NOAA station 46026 (SAN FRANCISCO - 18NM West of San Francisco, 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 San Francisco?
- Waves at San Francisco were arriving from 292° true (WNW) at the dominant period. Measured October 19, 2026 at 19:00 UTC by NOAA station 46026 (SAN FRANCISCO - 18NM West of San Francisco, CA).
- What is the barometric pressure at San Francisco?
- Sea-level pressure at San Francisco was 29.98 inHg (1015.3 hPa). Measured October 19, 2026 at 19:00 UTC by NOAA station 46026 (SAN FRANCISCO - 18NM West of San Francisco, CA). NDBC reports pressure reduced to sea level rather than the raw reading at the station.
- What is the swell at San Francisco?
- The swell at San Francisco had a significant height of 5.6 ft at a 12-second peak period, arriving from the WNW. Measured October 19, 2026 at 18:40 UTC by NOAA station 46026 (SAN FRANCISCO - 18NM West of San Francisco, CA). NDBC separates swell from locally generated wind waves using a spectral estimate.
- How much wind chop is at San Francisco?
- The wind-wave component at San Francisco had a significant height of 1.3 ft at a 4-second peak period, from the WNW. Measured October 19, 2026 at 18:40 UTC by NOAA station 46026 (SAN FRANCISCO - 18NM West of San Francisco, CA). Swell and wind-wave heights combine in quadrature, not by addition.
- Is it swell or wind chop at San Francisco?
- NDBC classified the sea state at San Francisco as swell, with a significant wave height of 5.9 ft. Measured October 19, 2026 at 18:40 UTC by NOAA station 46026 (SAN FRANCISCO - 18NM West of San Francisco, CA). The classification describes wave steepness relative to period, not wave size.
- Where is NOAA buoy 46026 located?
- SAN FRANCISCO - 18NM West of San Francisco, CA (46026) reports from 37.750°N, 122.838°W in the eastern North Pacific (California).
- How often is NOAA buoy 46026 updated?
- Station 46026 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 46026 measure?
- Big Buoy shows wind, barometric pressure, air and water temperature, and wave height and period where available for SAN FRANCISCO - 18NM West of San Francisco, CA, plus 7-day tides, solunar peak windows, and a multi-day weather outlook.
- Is Big Buoy free to use?
- Yes. Live data for SAN FRANCISCO - 18NM West of San Francisco, 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.