National Network of Regional Coastal Monitoring Programmes
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Note that these are real-time data and are not quality-controlled. Long-range graphs are plotted from a randomised subsample of half-hourly data.
Folkestone
Additional Information
Wave buoy location | 51° 03.76' N 001° 07.67' E |
WMO code | 6201017 |
Approximate water depth | 12.7 m CD |
Approximate spring tidal range | 6.5 m |
Storm alert threshold | 2.48 m |
Met station location | 51° 04.77 N 001° 10.19' E |
Wave parameters are recorded using a Datawell Directional WaveRider Mk III buoy. The buoy was deployed on 08 July 2003 from the MV Wessex Explorer, at which time the magnetic declination at the site was 2.1° west, changing by 0.14° east per year. Wave direction is reported following the nautical convention, meaning that the direction is where the waves come from, measured clockwise from magnetic north.
The met station was replaced with new equipment on April 2015.
09/11/2024 | Scheduled service |
01/05/2024 | Scheduled service |
22/03/2024 | The shore station is offline due to a suspected power issue. |
13/02/2024 | The site is offline due to a fault found on the BT line. |
28/12/2023 | The shore station computer is offline due to a power cut over the holidays. |
12/12/2023 | The site is offline due to a fault on the BT line. This will be rectified asap. |
22/06/2023 | Scheduled service |
21/01/2023 | Scheduled service |
04/01/2023 | It is suspected that the buoy was hit at 19:30Z, causing data loss until 06:30Z on 05/01/2023 |
20/11/2022 | It is suspected that the buoy was hit at 18:30Z, causing data loss until 21:00Z. |
18/07/2022 | Spurious data was being measured by the buoy from 10:30Z to 16:30Z. It is suspected that a boat was moored to the buoy during that time. |
08/07/2022 | Scheduled service during which the buoy was repositioned on its licensed location. |
18/02/2022 | During Storm Eunice, the buoy dragged its mooring 380 m east of its charted position and has settled on 51° 3.80' N 001° 7.98' E |
05/09/2021 | Scheduled service |
26/02/2021 | Scheduled service |
06/09/2020 | Scheduled service |
24/04/2020 | Scheduled service |
22/10/2019 | Buoy redeployed |
03/10/2019 | The buoy was taken out due to poor signal issues. |
16/09/2019 | Soon after the buoy was redeployed, it appears to have suffered from an impact. The buoy will be recovered again ASAP. |
16/09/2019 | Buoy redeployed |
13/09/2019 | The buoy has been recovered. A replacement buoy will be deployed ASAP. |
04/09/2019 | The buoy is having trouble communicating to the shore station. A team is out to investigate. |
19/03/2019 | Scheduled service |
03/08/2018 | Scheduled service |
12/01/2018 | Scheduled service |
15/08/2017 | Scheduled service |
18/01/2017 | Scheduled service |
18/07/2016 | Scheduled service |
27/04/2016 | BT have now fixed a fault near the shore station and the data stream has resumed. |
25/04/2016 | Connection issues preventing data upload are being investigated. |
16/02/2016 | Scheduled service (wave buoy) |
05/01/2016 | Scheduled service (met station) |
13/07/2015 | No data being received due to computer issues at the shore station. Will be resolved ASAP. |
20/06/2015 | Scheduled service |
03/02/2015 | Buoy redeployed |
20/01/2015 | Attempted re-dployment today aborted due to adverse sea conditions |
19/01/2015 | Attempted swap out of buoy due to unexpected depletion of batteries at last service. Problems with GPS position of replacement buoy means redployment will have to occur after work has been done on buoys back at port tonight. |
04/12/2014 | Scheduled service |
30/04/2014 | Scheduled service |
08/11/2013 | Scheduled service |
16/05/2013 | Buoy redeployed |
30/04/2013 | Buoy came adrift but was recovered same day |
01/11/2012 | New rain gauge now operational |
19/09/2012 | Scheduled service and re-battery |
01/03/2012 | Scheduled service |
16/07/2011 | The buoy has become adrift and reported by Dover Coastguard as beached near Folkestone. Attempts are underway to recover it. |
06/01/2011 | Scheduled service |
27/04/2010 | Scheduled service, buoy in good condition once cleaned |
09/11/2009 | Scheduled service. Due to poor paint coverage the hull was swapped, top hatch remained the same. |
26/06/2009 | Scheduled service and GPS antenna replacement |
27/01/2009 | Scheduled service |
18/07/2008 | Buoy came adrift at 13:00 |
29/01/2008 | Scheduled service |
10/01/2008 | GPS position is not updating |
04/01/2006 | The GPS position is not being updated. The fault is being investigated. |
09/08/2004 | The buoy was re-deployed on 29 July, but there are problems with the receiver |
01/07/2004 | The buoy was located 36m east of Ipswich. It has been recovered and is being checked and serviced before re-deployment. |
28/06/2004 | The buoy was been located approximately 36 miles offshore and is being recovered. The bungee had been cleanly cut, so it appears that it was cut free, rather than the buoy breaking free in the storms. |
23/06/2004 | Buoy has moved off its mooring, recovery attempts are underway |
13/05/2004 | W@ves21 software has been updated and all wave parameters are being properly processed |
30/03/2004 | The buoy was serviced on 28/03/04 but the RxD receiver has become de-tuned |
24/02/2004 | There is a problem with the W@ves21 software, which is not storing the wave parameters properly. The data are recoverable, but are not available in real-time. Datawell are investigating the problem. |
04/08/2003 | Receiver replaced |
30/07/2003 | Fault found to be failure of receiver at shore station. Replacement ordered. |
28/07/2003 | Intermittent faults with data reported and investigated |