This paper examines the capability of synthetic aperture radar imagery from ERS-1 and buoys to track the wave field emanating from an intense storm over a several-day period. The first part of the study is a validation component that compares SAR-derived wave length and direction with buoy data from two locations over 10 different dates in late 1991 and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) wave model (WAM) wave direction results. When the SAR is linear (8 out of 10 cases), mean wavelength is within 5% of the buoy measurements and mean wave direction is within 1¿ of direction derived from the wave model (albeit with a large standard deviation of 27¿), indicating close agreement. The wave field generated from the intense storm in late December 1991 was measured by three separate ERS-1 SAR passes over a 3-day period. A simple kinematic model was used for waves propagating from a storm. Comparing the model results with both SAR and buoy data indicates that SAR-derived peak wavelength and direction measurements can be reliably used to predict arrival times and propagation direction over a several-day period and considerable distances. The measurements can also be used to derive estimated wave generation source regions about the storm as well. Such measurements are useful for comparing with wave model results, which perform less accurately for direction than wave height for example, and for predicting hazardous conditions for ship navigation and coastal regions. ¿ 1998 American Geophysical Union