As part of a study of the large-scale response of coastal sea level to atmospheric forcing along the west coast of North America during June–September 1973, Halliwell and Allen calculate space- and time-lagged cross-correlation coefficients Rτζ between adjusted sea level ζ at fixed alongshore locations ζ(y0) and the alongshore component of the wind stress τ at general alongshore positions τ(y). Similarly, correlation coefficients Rζζ and Rττ involving, respectively, ζ(y0) versus ζ(y) and τ(y0) versus τ(y) are computed. The Rτζ correlations show a consistent asymmetry in time and space lag (tL, yL), with maximum values of Rτζ found for τ(y) to the south of ζ(y0) and leading in time. The Rττ correlations are typically symmetric in tL and in yL while Rζζ generally show sea level fluctuations to the south leading those to the north in time. It is shown here that the observed correlation coefficients involving ζ are consistent with those derived from solutions to the forced, first-order wave equation ... Abstract As part of a study of the large-scale response of coastal sea level to atmospheric forcing along the west coast of North America during June–September 1973, Halliwell and Allen calculate space- and time-lagged cross-correlation coefficients Rτζ between adjusted sea level ζ at fixed alongshore locations ζ(y0) and the alongshore component of the wind stress τ at general alongshore positions τ(y). Similarly, correlation coefficients Rζζ and Rττ involving, respectively, ζ(y0) versus ζ(y) and τ(y0) versus τ(y) are computed. The Rτζ correlations show a consistent asymmetry in time and space lag (tL, yL), with maximum values of Rτζ found for τ(y) to the south of ζ(y0) and leading in time. The Rττ correlations are typically symmetric in tL and in yL while Rζζ generally show sea level fluctuations to the south leading those to the north in time. It is shown here that the observed correlation coefficients involving ζ are consistent with those derived from solutions to the forced, first-order wave equation ...