Marine forecast
Monterey Bay, CA
- current wind
- 4 kt E
- Seas
- 4.9 ft
- Period
- 14 sec
- 72-hr peak
- 11 kt
- Peak seas
- 3 ft
Observed Tue 11:08 AM | PZZ535
- Seas now
- 4.9 ft · 14 sec
- 72-hr peak
- 11 kt
- Peak seas
- 3 ft
In brief
At 11:08 am PDT on Oct 13, 2026, NDBC station 46092 measured wind from the E at 4 kt; buoy 46236 measured seas of 4.9 ft. The NWS forecast for Monterey Bay, CA issued at 8:30 am PDT on Oct 13, 2026 reads, for today: “NE wind around 5 kt, backing to W early this afternoon, rising to 10 to 15 kt late. Seas 3 to 4 ft.”
Source: National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area forecast; NDBC observations
Wind forecast · ktPeak 11 kt
Seas forecast · ftPeak 3 ft
NWS marine forecast
| Period | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Today | NE wind around 5 kt, backing to W early this afternoon, rising to 10 to 15 kt late. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: NW 3 ft at 9 seconds and SW 2 ft at 17 seconds. |
| Tonight | N wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming NE 5 to 10 kt after midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 8 seconds and SW 2 ft at 16 seconds. |
| Wed | NE wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to W in the afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: NW 3 ft at 8 seconds and SW 2 ft at 16 seconds. |
| Wed Night | NW wind 5 to 10 kt, veering to NE after midnight. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: NW 3 ft at 8 seconds and SW 2 ft at 15 seconds. |
| Thu | NE wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to NW in the afternoon. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 7 seconds and SW 2 ft at 15 seconds. |
| Thu Night | N wind 5 to 10 kt, veering to NE after midnight. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 11 seconds and SW 2 ft at 15 seconds. |
| Fri | NE wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming NW in the afternoon. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 10 seconds. |
| Fri Night | NW wind 5 to 10 kt, veering to NE after midnight. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 7 seconds and SW 2 ft at 13 seconds. |
| Sat | NE wind around 5 kt, backing to NW in the afternoon. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 8 seconds and SW 2 ft at 13 seconds. |
| Sat Night | W wind 5 to 10 kt, veering to N after midnight. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 10 seconds and SW 2 ft at 16 seconds. Locally lower winds and seas across sheltered portions of the bay. |
Issued Tue 8:30 AM by San Francisco Bay Area (product CWFMTR).
Recent buoy conditions
| Time | Wind | Gust | Seas | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 11:08 AM | 4 kt E | — | — | — |
| Tue 10:08 AM | 8 kt ENE | — | — | — |
| Tue 9:08 AM | 6 kt ENE | — | — | — |
| Mon 8:18 PM | 6 kt NW | — | — | — |
| Mon 7:08 PM | 8 kt WNW | — | — | — |
| Mon 6:08 PM | 12 kt WNW | — | — | — |
| Mon 5:08 PM | 12 kt WNW | — | — | — |
| Mon 4:08 PM | 12 kt WNW | — | — | — |
| Mon 3:08 PM | 12 kt WNW | — | — | — |
| Mon 2:08 PM | 10 kt WNW | — | — | — |
| Mon 1:08 PM | 6 kt WNW | — | — | — |
| Mon 12:08 PM | 0 kt | — | — | — |
Observed Tue 11:08 AM at NDBC buoy 46092, 11.5 miles away. Seas from buoy 46236 (Monterey Canyon Outer, CA (156)), 7.5 miles away, at Tue 12:00 PM.
Frequently asked questions
What is the marine forecast for Monterey Bay today?
Today: NE wind around 5 kt, backing to W early this afternoon, rising to 10 to 15 kt late. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: NW 3 ft at 9 seconds and SW 2 ft at 17 seconds.
Is there a small craft advisory for Monterey Bay?
No advisories, warnings or watches are in effect for NWS zone PZZ535 as of the last update on this page. Advisories can be issued at any time; check the current bulletin before leaving the dock.
How high are the waves at Monterey Bay right now?
Seas are running 4.9 ft at a 14-second period, measured at NDBC buoy 46092 Tue 11:08 AM, 11.5 miles from this zone. The forecast peaks at 3.0 ft Tue 12 PM.
What do the wind speeds in knots mean?
One knot is 1.15 mph. The National Weather Service issues a small craft advisory for sustained winds of roughly 22–33 knots or hazardous seas, a gale warning at 34–47 knots, and a storm warning at 48 knots and above. Exact advisory thresholds vary by forecast office and by water body — a bay reaches dangerous chop at a lower wind speed than open ocean.
Where does this forecast come from?
The forecast text is the National Weather Service's own marine bulletin for zone PZZ535, issued by San Francisco Bay Area, reproduced in full. The wind and seas charts are drawn from the NWS gridded forecast for a point inside the zone. Observations come from the nearest reporting NDBC buoy. We are not affiliated with NOAA or the National Weather Service.
Forecast: NOAA/NWS product CWFMTR, issued Tue 8:30 AM. Observations: NOAA National Data Buoy Center station 46092, read Tue 11:08 AM. Retrieved Oct 13, 12:42 PM. Conditions offshore change faster than any page can be rebuilt, so check the current NWS bulletin and your own instruments before going out.