An efficient numerical model is used to solve the linear barotropic equations of motion with North Atlantic bottom topography and seasonal wind forcing. The model domain extends from 10°S to 80°N and from 0° to 100°W with 1° × 1° resolution. Seasonal transport and sea level variations predicted by the model are compared with the available data. The most striking result from our study is the ability of the model to reproduce features of the observed annual cycle of sea level. The model reproduces most of the features at stations on the southeastern seaboard of the United States noted by Blaha, although with reduced amplitude. We demonstrate the influence of offshore transport variations on our model response at these stations and suggest that perhaps the coastal sea level record provides evidence for the transport variations in deep water, offshore from the Gulf Stream, that are predicted by the model. We have also looked at the model response at stations farther north and on the eastern side of the North Atlantic. We find that the model results often show little agreement with data from which the offshore deep-water steric signal has been removed. Indeed, better agreement is generally found (at least in phase) with data corrected only for atmospheric pressure variations. This suggests that seasonally varying baroclinic coastal currents and/or JEBAR have an important influence on North Atlantic coastal sea level at these stations (a possible exception being St. John's, Newfoundland). The model results compare favorably with the observed transport variations through the Florida Straits, although, in common with Anderson and Corry's study, the amplitude is underestimated. We demonstrate that our model transports are influenced by winds north of 50°N and that this influence is felt all along the eastern seaboard of North America. The model cannot, however, account for the annual cycle of transport in the Gulf Stream off Cape Hatteras noted by Halkin and Rossby. However, it does explain why Thompson et al. were unable to find any correlation between fluctuations in the Labrador Current and predictions based on the North Atlantic wind stress field. It also predicts a sea level response at Nain, Labrador, similar to that detected by these authors in the observed sea level record.