The National Data Bouy Center (NDBC) provides hourly observations from a network of about 90 buoys and 60 Coastal Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) stations to help meet these needs. All stations measure wind speed, direction, and gust; barometric pressure; and air temperature. In addition, all buoy stations, and some C-MAN stations, measure sea surface temperature and wave height and period. Conductivity and water current are measured at selected stations.
NDBC designs, develops, operates, and maintains a network of data collecting buoys and coastal stations.
In addition to real time data observations, the site also offers both recent and historical data from the available set of bouy data. The above image, is an example of the bouys available for accessing recent bouy data for the U.S. west coast.
Click Here to go to the site: http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/
NWS forecasters need frequent, high-quality marine observations to examine conditions for forecast preparation and to verify their forecasts after they are produced. Other users rely on the observations and forecasts for commercial and recreational activities.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Data Buoy Center (NDBC), a part of the National Weather Service (NWS), provides this essential service.