Are the Waves Bad on Your Cruise Route?
Typical and rough-day wave heights for each stretch of sea, by month, with the water temperature.
No live line for this stretch here: the National Weather Service forecasts these waters only in its offshore forecasts.
Gulf of Alaska crossing in October: waves are typically 8.4 ft (2.6 m).
- Rough days (1 in 10)
- 15.3 ft 4.7 m or more
- Water
- 50°F 10°C
Wave Heights by Month
Typical Rough days (1 in 10) Scale: 0 to 18 ft
Show as a table
| Month | Typical | Rough days (1 in 10) | Water |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11.2 ft (3.4 m) | 17.7 ft (5.4 m) | 41°F (5°C) |
| February | 10.5 ft (3.2 m) | 17.7 ft (5.4 m) | 40°F (5°C) |
| March | 8.4 ft (2.6 m) | 14.7 ft (4.5 m) | 40°F (4°C) |
| April | 7.1 ft (2.2 m) | 13.2 ft (4.0 m) | 41°F (5°C) |
| May | 5.9 ft (1.8 m) | 9.9 ft (3.0 m) | 43°F (6°C) |
| June | 4.8 ft (1.5 m) | 9.2 ft (2.8 m) | 48°F (9°C) |
| July | 4.4 ft (1.3 m) | 7.3 ft (2.2 m) | 54°F (12°C) |
| August | 5.3 ft (1.6 m) | 9.3 ft (2.8 m) | 57°F (14°C) |
| September | 7.2 ft (2.2 m) | 12.7 ft (3.9 m) | 55°F (13°C) |
| October | 8.4 ft (2.6 m) | 15.3 ft (4.7 m) | 50°F (10°C) |
| November | 10.5 ft (3.2 m) | 17.6 ft (5.4 m) | 45°F (7°C) |
| December | 10.9 ft (3.3 m) | 17.4 ft (5.3 m) | 42°F (6°C) |
Source: NDBC buoy 46001, 2008 to 2025.
Buoy wave heights and water temperatures: NOAA National Data Buoy Center.
Wave height is significant wave height: the average of the highest third of waves. Rough days (1 in 10) is the 90th percentile: 1 reading in 10 for the month is at or above it.