We investigated sea level fluctuations at seven locations from San Francisco to Tofino, British Columbia, during a 2-year period beginning in August 1973. Using overlapping 2-month periods, we found the alongshore correlation to vary with time and with location along the coast. In winter the fluctuations are correlated along the entire coast from San Francisco to Tofino; at intermediate locations the correlation is higher with Tofino than with San Francisco. In summer, sea level variations at San Francisco and Crescent City are not correlated with those farther north; there is still high alongshore correlation among the stations to the north and also between Crescent City and San Francisco. In all seasons the sea level fluctuations propagate northward, although variations in the wind stress propagate southward. At each location the sea level is usually also correlated with the local wind stress, the wind stress leading by about a day.