EAST SANTA BARBARA - 12NM Southwest of Santa Barbara, CA (46053) — Live Marine Conditions & Buoy Data
NOAA station 46053, EAST SANTA BARBARA - 12NM Southwest of Santa Barbara, CA, reports real-time marine conditions from 34.246°N, 119.842°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.
Southern California Marine Conditions — EAST SANTA BARBARA - 12NM Southwest of Santa Barbara, CA is one of several stations in Southern California. See live tides, buoy data, and solunar for the whole area.
Current conditions at EAST SANTA BARBARA - 12NM Southwest of Santa Barbara, CA
As of October 19, 2026 at 19:00 UTC, EAST SANTA BARBARA - 12NM Southwest of Santa Barbara, CA (46053) is reporting water temperature 70°F, air temperature 69°F, wave height 4.9 ft at an 11-second dominant period, wind from the W at 7 mph gusting 9 mph, and barometric pressure 29.94 inHg.
- Water temperature
- 70°F
- Air temperature
- 69°F
- Wave height
- 4.9 ft @ 11 s
- Wind
- W 7 mph (gust 9)
- Barometric pressure
- 29.94 inHg
Observed October 19, 2026 at 19:00 UTC from NOAA NDBC station 46053. Readings update about every 10 minutes.
What NOAA buoy 46053 measures
As a NOAA meteorological station, 46053 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 East Santa Barbara?
- Sea surface temperature at East Santa Barbara was 70°F. Measured October 19, 2026 at 19:00 UTC by NOAA station 46053 (EAST SANTA BARBARA - 12NM Southwest of Santa Barbara, CA). NDBC measures this near the surface, at a depth that varies by station.
- What is the air temperature at East Santa Barbara?
- Air temperature at East Santa Barbara was 69°F. Measured October 19, 2026 at 19:00 UTC by NOAA station 46053 (EAST SANTA BARBARA - 12NM Southwest of Santa Barbara, CA).
- What is the wind doing at East Santa Barbara?
- Wind at East Santa Barbara was from the W at 7 mph, with peak gusts to 9 mph. Measured October 19, 2026 at 19:00 UTC by NOAA station 46053 (EAST SANTA BARBARA - 12NM Southwest of Santa Barbara, 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 East Santa Barbara?
- Significant wave height at East Santa Barbara was 4.9 ft, with an 11-second dominant period. Measured October 19, 2026 at 19:00 UTC by NOAA station 46053 (EAST SANTA BARBARA - 12NM Southwest of Santa Barbara, 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 East Santa Barbara?
- Waves at East Santa Barbara were arriving from 274° true (W) at the dominant period. Measured October 19, 2026 at 19:00 UTC by NOAA station 46053 (EAST SANTA BARBARA - 12NM Southwest of Santa Barbara, CA).
- What is the barometric pressure at East Santa Barbara?
- Sea-level pressure at East Santa Barbara was 29.94 inHg (1014 hPa). Measured October 19, 2026 at 19:00 UTC by NOAA station 46053 (EAST SANTA BARBARA - 12NM Southwest of Santa Barbara, CA). NDBC reports pressure reduced to sea level rather than the raw reading at the station.
- What is the swell at East Santa Barbara?
- The swell at East Santa Barbara had a significant height of 4.6 ft at an 11-second peak period, arriving from the W. Measured October 19, 2026 at 18:40 UTC by NOAA station 46053 (EAST SANTA BARBARA - 12NM Southwest of Santa Barbara, CA). NDBC separates swell from locally generated wind waves using a spectral estimate.
- How much wind chop is at East Santa Barbara?
- The wind-wave component at East Santa Barbara had a significant height of 1.0 ft at a 4-second peak period, from the WSW. Measured October 19, 2026 at 18:40 UTC by NOAA station 46053 (EAST SANTA BARBARA - 12NM Southwest of Santa Barbara, CA). Swell and wind-wave heights combine in quadrature, not by addition.
- Is it swell or wind chop at East Santa Barbara?
- NDBC classified the sea state at East Santa Barbara as swell, with a significant wave height of 4.9 ft. Measured October 19, 2026 at 18:40 UTC by NOAA station 46053 (EAST SANTA BARBARA - 12NM Southwest of Santa Barbara, CA). The classification describes wave steepness relative to period, not wave size.
- Where is NOAA buoy 46053 located?
- EAST SANTA BARBARA - 12NM Southwest of Santa Barbara, CA (46053) reports from 34.246°N, 119.842°W in the eastern North Pacific (California).
- How often is NOAA buoy 46053 updated?
- Station 46053 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 46053 measure?
- Big Buoy shows wind, barometric pressure, air and water temperature, and wave height and period where available for EAST SANTA BARBARA - 12NM Southwest of Santa Barbara, CA, plus 7-day tides, solunar peak windows, and a multi-day weather outlook.
- Is Big Buoy free to use?
- Yes. Live data for EAST SANTA BARBARA - 12NM Southwest of Santa Barbara, 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.