Guide
Reading wave, wind, and water-temperature observations
A practical field guide to the wave height, wind speed, gust, pressure, air temperature, and water temperature values shown on BuoyStat.us.
Read multiple fields together
A single buoy value rarely tells the whole story. BuoyStat.us puts wave, wind, temperature, and pressure values next to freshness and nearby stations so patterns are easier to spot.
Key observation fields
- Wave height
- A snapshot of measured sea-state energy at the station. Compare it with dominant period before judging comfort or risk.
- Dominant wave period
- The period carrying the most energy. Longer periods often travel farther and can feel stronger than short-period chop at the same height.
- Wind speed and gust
- Sustained wind describes the background flow while gusts expose peak loading on sails, small craft, piers, and exposed shorelines.
- Water temperature
- A local thermal reading useful for fishing, swimming, surf planning, and rapid weather-change context.
- Pressure
- A barometric signal that helps identify changing weather patterns when viewed with wind direction and trend context.
Practical scan order
Check freshness first, then wave height and period, then sustained wind and gusts, then temperature and pressure. If nearby stations disagree, treat the situation as changing and verify through official forecasts.