Winthrop Harbor Buoy, IL - Live Wave Heights & Surf Conditions

About Winthrop Harbor Buoy, IL Buoy

The Winthrop Harbor Buoy, IL buoy is part of the NOAA National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) network. It continuously measures swell height, wave period, direction, and marine weather for mariners near Illinois. This data supports safe navigation, surf forecasting, weather modeling, and coastal research around Illinois.

Operations are handled by a U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) regional partner, supporting coastal navigation, ecosystem health, and science.

Data Applications

• Surfers: Track swell height, period, and direction to time sessions and compare nearby breaks.
• Mariners: Monitor sea state and wave energy for safer transits and offshore operations.
• Weather forecasters: Analyze storm-driven waves and ocean-atmosphere interactions for regional forecasts.
• Researchers: Study long-term wave climate trends, coastal erosion, and renewable energy potential.