Step 3: Confirm data using a buoy.

It looks like a storm, but it might be a good idea to confirm that the winds are blowing. You can check that (and get other interesting information) at a buoy located near your storm. You'll find links to ocean buoys at NOAA's National Data Buoy Center .

When you get to the page, you'll be greeted with a map of the world divided into several regions. Click on the region where your storm is located. In this case, we'll go to the northwest region of the Pacific coast that includes the northwestern United States and northern California. Here, we'll find a buoy that can give us information about conditions in the open ocean.