Buoy 46059: West California - 357nm West Of San Francisco, CA webcam — United States
Working Still image · every hour Open ocean · Official source · What camera types mean
What you are looking at
Far from any coast, station 46059 floats about 357 nautical miles west of San Francisco, California, over water roughly 4,620 meters (around 15,000 feet) deep. NOAA's National Data Buoy Center keeps this 3-meter discus buoy out here as an early lookout for weather and waves heading toward the West Coast.
Swells and storms that will reach northern and central California a day or so later often pass this point first, so forecasters, surfers and mariners watch its wave height and period closely. The buoy also reports wind speed, gusts and direction, air pressure, and air and sea-surface temperature, all of which feed National Weather Service offshore and coastal forecasts. Ships crossing between California and Asia or Hawaii pass through these open waters too.
The BuoyCAM strip shows nothing but sea and sky in every direction, photographed generally about hourly in daylight. In winter, North Pacific low-pressure systems can bring heavy gray skies and big, long-period swells; summer is usually calmer, with steady northerly winds and patches of low cloud. The horizon leans as the buoy rolls, and salt spray on a lens is part of life this far offshore.
Camera details
- Operator
- NOAA National Data Buoy Center
- Station ID
- 46059
- Station
- WEST CALIFORNIA - 357NM West of San Francisco, CA
- 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 46059: West California - 357nm West Of San Francisco, CA
Can I watch Buoy 46059: West California - 357nm West Of San Francisco, CA 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 operates the Buoy 46059: West California - 357nm West Of San Francisco, CA 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 is the Buoy 46059: West California - 357nm West Of San Francisco, CA camera?
It is in United States. Coordinates: 38.067, -129.895.
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.
Can I see other cameras nearby?
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
Does this buoy camera work at night?
No: NOAA BuoyCAMs take pictures only in daylight, so at night the last daytime image stays up. This is NOAA station 46059; its page also has the latest wind, wave and temperature readings. Station 46059 at NOAA
What do the sensors at Buoy 46059: West California - 357nm West Of San Francisco, CA show?
The latest readings from the provider: Waves: 2.1 m / 6.9 ft, every 11 s from the WNW; Water: 18.7 °C / 65.7 °F; Air: 17.3 °C / 63.1 °F; Wind: 29 km/h / 18 mph from the N, gusts 36 km/h / 22 mph; Air pressure: 1,019.0 hPa / 30.09 inHg. They update with the provider's data, so they can be a few minutes old.