National Data Buoy Center

Home
United States
Stennis Space Center, MS
National Data Buoy Center

Official page for NOAA's National Weather Service National Data Buoy Center (NDBC). It operates the NWS test center for all surface sensor systems.
(1)

NDBC Charter: The National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) manages the development, operations, and maintenance of the national data buoy network. It serves as the NOAA focal point for data buoy and associated meteorological and environmental monitoring technology. It provides high quality meteorological/environmental data in real time from automated observing systems that include buoys and a Coastal-Mari

ne Automated Network (C-MAN) in the open ocean and coastal zone surrounding the United States. It provides engineering support, including applications development, and manages data buoy deployment and operations, and installation and operation of automated observing systems installed on fixed platforms. It manages the Volunteer Observing Ship (VOS) program to acquire additional meteorological and oceanographic observations supporting NWS mission requirements. It maintains the capability to support operational and research programs of NOAA and other national and international organizations. If you're looking for the official source of information about the National Data Buoy Center, please visit our homepage at www.ndbc.noaa.gov.

08/21/2026

Pacific Hurricane brought treacherous conditions to Hawaii last weekend, and NDBC weather buoy 51004 reported from near the storm’s path. Data show wind gusts over 46 kts and a significant wave height over 17 feet, with a pressure low of 993.9 mb. Measurements from weather buoys offer vital observations about the conditions inside storms like this one, aiding forecasters in their predictions. Follow NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center to stay up to date on this year’s Pacific season.

08/20/2026

🤔Did You Know?
Every NDBC station has its own mooring design created by our engineering team. These designs can vary in length, material, and structure according to the specific needs of the station and location.
⚓Our longest mooring? Station 52405 in the Philippine Sea. This DART buoy is deployed in 5804m of water and is one of the deepest moorings the NDBC team has ever deployed! The mooring's total length is 23,491 feet, or 4.53 miles.
DART buoys help detect tsunami waves, which often begin as disruptions to the water column detected on the sea floor. This buoy’s deep-water mooring is vital to keeping it on location, allowing it to report from an area commonly known as the “ring of fire” with heightened seismic activity.

08/05/2026

Our Coastal Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) team has been hard at work on our “C-MAN refresh” project, updating the hardware and electronics systems and moving to a more uniform tower style that will make service visits easier. We’re a quarter of the way through, having converted 10 of 40 locations, with more scheduled in the coming weeks and months!

07/24/2026

Each year, our Great Lakes buoys undergo winterization, where we retrieve the systems and remove sensors for the coldest months before redeploying them once the danger of icing has passed. NDBC has wonderful partnerships with the U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard, who work together to ensure safety throughout the Great Lakes. Data from these stations is vital for mariners and regional residents, enabling them to make safe, informed decisions.

07/20/2026

We’re keeping an eye on Atlantic Tropical Depression 2 in the Gulf of America, as its path is set to interact with several NDBC stations. The system’s signature is visible as it moves toward NDBC Weather Buoy 42039, 115NM SSE of Pensacola, FL. Wind and wave measurements increase as barometric pressure steadily decreases with the approach of the depression, which is expected to be upgraded to a tropical storm later today. Follow NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center for updates, and visit ndbc.noaa.gov to see more observations associated with this system.

07/17/2026

Over the last few days, our buoy cams across the Great Lakes and the Northeastern U.S. have captured the haze drifting in from wildfires to the north. If you're in these regions, stay informed by checking your favorite buoy and monitoring your local forecast. Be sure to follow guidance from U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) to stay safe while outdoors or on the water!

07/03/2026

Wishing you a happy Fourth of July, from the NDBC team! 🎆
If you’re hoping to beat the heat and celebrate with some time out on the water this weekend, be sure to check in with your local buoy before you hit the waves! Visit www.ndbc.noaa.gov to find real-time data and marine forecasts near you.

07/01/2026

📜From the Archives:
The earliest NDBC buoys were massive 12-meter and 10-meter diameter platforms, dubbed “monster buoy” by employees. The first of these was XERB-1, located about 200 NM east of Norfolk, Virginia in 1970.

These enormous buoys were large enough for multiple people to board for service visits, and they required full use of our high bay facility at Stennis Space Center to construct. The building that originally housed the Saturn V rockets transformed into a space for building these giant oceanic observing platforms. 🚀🌊

06/26/2026

🙌 Our Engineering Interns aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty!
Carina (Lynker intern) and Preston (LaPenta intern) recently got up close and personal with a Weather buoy, exploring how the system fits together and helping with assembly and disassembly of a station. 💪 We’re excited to be hosting 8 interns over the summer, inviting young people to explore potential career paths alongside our amazing team at the National Data Buoy Center. 🌊

Follow along this summer to see more of the and their adventures!

05/29/2026

🌎 Ensuring the nation’s maritime safety starts with our own team!

🤝 During any service mission, our technicians at sea rely heavily on buoy data, local NWS Weather Forecasts Offices, and the expertise of our meteorologists back at NDBC to help navigate the challenges of swiftly changing conditions at sea.

After the NDBC team on the M/V Bluefin paid a visit to 46066 (310 NM SSW of Kodiak, AK) this week, the weather outlook took a turn for the worse. Armed with reliable data, our team made an informed decision to move inland and drop anchor while they wait for calmer seas and safer conditions to continue the service cruise.

Our mission is to make informed decisions like this one possible for you, too! Access NDBC buoy data for your area at www.ndbc.noaa.gov.

US National Weather Service Anchorage Alaska

Address

Stennis Space Center, MS
39529

Website

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when National Data Buoy Center posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to National Data Buoy Center:

Want your organization to be the top-listed Government Service in Stennis Space Center?