Buoy 42001: Mid Gulf - 180 NM South Of Southwest Pass, LA webcam — United States
Working Still image · every hour Open ocean · Official source · What camera types mean
What you are looking at
Station 42001, called Mid Gulf, is moored in the deep center of the Gulf about 180 nautical miles south of Southwest Pass, Louisiana, one of the main mouths of the Mississippi River. The 3-meter foam buoy rides over about 3,195 meters of water, well beyond sight of land.
Its camera takes a group of photos in different directions, generally once an hour in daylight, and presents them as one long strip. Most of the time that means open water, wide sky and passing clouds, and occasionally a distant ship. Spray on a lens and a tilted horizon are part of watching from a moving buoy.
Ships bound for the Mississippi and crews working offshore energy platforms rely on forecasts that use this station's wind, gust, pressure, air and water temperature, and wave height and period. During the June to November hurricane season, storms crossing the central Gulf frequently pass close enough for the buoy to record them. In winter, strong cold fronts can sweep this far south, bringing a sudden switch to brisk northerly winds and steep, short seas.
Camera details
- Operator
- NOAA National Data Buoy Center
- Station ID
- 42001
- Station
- MID GULF - 180 nm South of Southwest Pass, LA
- Image size
- 2880 × 300 px (6 frames around the buoy)
- Daylight pictures only
- Yes
- Image updates
- Every hour
- Video format
- Still image (JPEG)
- Position
- Exact (from the provider)
- Licence
- U.S. public domain
- Data source
- NOAA NDBC BuoyCAMs
- Working, last 7 days
- 100 % of checks
From the provider's own camera list and our automatic checks. Readings and details can change without notice.
On the map
Nearby live views
Questions about Buoy 42001: Mid Gulf - 180 NM South Of Southwest Pass, LA
Can I watch Buoy 42001: Mid Gulf - 180 NM South Of Southwest Pass, LA live right now?
Yes, it is working: at our last automatic check it was sending new pictures. It is a still image, not video: a new photo arrives about every 1 hour straight from NOAA National Data Buoy Center.
Who runs this camera?
NOAA National Data Buoy Center runs this camera. It is an official source. Its images are in the U.S. public domain. LiveLocation shows them straight from the source with credit. About NOAA BuoyCAMs Watch at the source
Where exactly is this camera?
It is in United States. Coordinates: 25.922, -89.638.
Is it day or night there now?
This camera is out at sea or far from a time zone line, so we show approximate solar time. The "Right now" panel above shows the local time and whether the sun is up, updated live.
Are there more live cameras near here?
No other camera is within 25 miles yet. The live camera radar can search up to 250 miles around this spot. Open the radar here
Why is the buoy picture dark or old?
No: NOAA BuoyCAMs take pictures only in daylight, so at night the last daytime image stays up. This is NOAA station 42001; its page also has the latest wind, wave and temperature readings. Station 42001 at NOAA
What are the conditions at Buoy 42001: Mid Gulf - 180 NM South Of Southwest Pass, LA now?
The latest readings from the provider: Waves: 1.1 m / 3.6 ft, every 7 s from the NE; Water: 30.0 °C / 86.0 °F; Air: 29.0 °C / 84.2 °F; Wind: 18 km/h / 11 mph from the NE, gusts 22 km/h / 13 mph; Air pressure: 1,008.9 hPa / 29.79 inHg. They update with the provider's data, so they can be a few minutes old.