Louisiana & Central Gulf water temperature today
Across 3 reporting buoys, the water ranges from 79°F at DISL Sofar Spotter to 82°F at Southwest Pass Entrance W, LA.
Latest readings from the 3 NOAA buoys off Louisiana & Central Gulf: water temperature, wind and waves. Sorted with the long-running offshore buoys first.
| Buoy | Water | Wind | Waves | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DISL Sofar SpotterNDBC 42357 · 30.09°N 88.21°W | 79°F 26°C | – | – | Oct 17, 12:05 UTC |
| Southwest Pass Entrance W, LANDBC 42084 · 28.99°N 89.65°W | 82°F 28°C | – | 6 ft @ 5s | Oct 17, 13:00 UTC |
| Chandeleur Island SE, LANDBC 42354 · 29.58°N 88.64°W | 81°F 27°C | – | 8 ft @ 7s | Oct 17, 13:00 UTC |
See where the warm and cold water actually sits between these buoys, and where the temperature breaks and color changes are, on the satellite chart for Louisiana & Central Gulf.
FAQ
Where does this water temperature come from?
From NOAA's National Data Buoy Center (NDBC). Each buoy measures the water temperature near the surface, usually about a meter down, and reports roughly every hour. We pull the latest reading for every buoy off Louisiana & Central Gulf.
How often does this page update?
Every time you load it. Readings come straight from NOAA and are at most about 30 minutes behind what NOAA has published.
Why is the buoy temperature different from the satellite chart?
A buoy measures one spot a meter or so below the surface. A satellite measures the skin of the water over a wide area. On calm, sunny afternoons the skin can read warmer than the water below it. More in our guide to ground-truthing SST with buoys.
Related: How to use buoy data to ground-truth satellite SST · Ideal water temperatures for pelagic fish