WEATHER & COASTAL CONDITIONS
Gulf Marine Conditions
Find NOAA buoy observations and official marine forecasts for Gulf Coast trip planning. Check the station location, observation time, and forecast area before using a reading.
Offshore readings describe conditions at that station, not every beach, harbor, or part of Mississippi Sound. Missing observations should be shown as unavailable rather than replaced with zero.
NOAA buoy observations
Open NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center station map to choose a reporting location. The station page lists available observations and their times; some instruments or stations may not be reporting.
Read the station details
- Station ID and location.
- Latest observation date and time.
- Available water temperature and wave measurements.
- Measurement units and missing-data notices.
No single station is presented here as a measurement of all coastal beaches.
Official marine forecasts
New Orleans / Mississippi coastal waters
Use the NWS New Orleans/Baton Rouge site’s marine resources to select the appropriate forecast area.
Eastern coastal waters
The NWS marine page links to regional coastal-water forecasts, observations, and wave resources. Check the named forecast zone.
Observations are not forecasts
Buoy measurements report what was observed at a location and time. Forecasts describe expected conditions over a stated period. Use both when planning, and read the agency’s complete forecast and notices.
Water temperature
Confirm whether the value is Celsius or Fahrenheit and which station measured it.
Wave information
Confirm the units, observation time, and reporting station. Offshore wave measurements can differ from nearshore surf or conditions inside a harbor.