By month

Kitesurfing in USA in May

25 of the 28 destinations the atlas holds in USA are in season in May.

Modelled over half5of the 25 in season, on a spot's own series

Under the 50% bar8riders name the month, the model reads lower

No series12riders' months are all there is

The recorded main wind is a thermal sea breeze at 13 and a trade wind at 7. The highest modelled share of windy days in May is 89% at San Francisco Bay; the share is known for 13 of the 25. 16 of them have a spot that takes beginners.

Level

Order

Water

Showing all 25 destinations.

What modelled windy, riders' months and no series mean

modelled windy

The modelled series at one of the destination's spots puts May at half its days or more with three or more hours over 12 knots. That share is enough on its own: a spot here may or may not also name May among its best months.

riders' months

A spot names May among its best months while the model reads under half. Both figures are drawn and neither is adjusted.

no series

No spot at the destination carries a usable modelled series, so the months are the ones riders and schools name.

Modelled windy in May

5 destinations

A spot's modelled series reaches 50% of May days or more. That share is enough on its own: a destination here may or may not also have a spot naming May among its best months.

San Francisco Bay

modelled windy

15–20 kntakes beginnersintermediateadvanced

North Americathermal sea breeze

Modelled share of windy days by month: Mar 50%, Apr 77%, May 89%, Jun 100%, Jul 100%, Aug 92%, Sep 87%, Oct 37%. No figure for Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec. In season: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.

6 spots6 in season8 schools

Photo: Brocken Inaglory / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Hood River / Columbia Gorge

modelled windy

13–30 knChoptakes beginnersintermediateadvanced

North Americathermal sea breeze

Modelled share of windy days by month: May 58%, Jun 65%, Jul 68%, Aug 52%, Sep 48%, Oct 24%. No figure for Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec. In season: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.

8 spots8 in season6 schools

USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region (public domain)

South Padre Island

modelled windy

15–25 knWavesLagoonFlat watertakes beginnersintermediateadvanced

North Americathermal sea breeze

Modelled share of windy days by month: Jan 63%, Feb 68%, Mar 71%, Apr 85%, May 71%, Jun 85%, Jul 66%, Sep 53%, Oct 55%, Nov 62%, Dec 47%. No figure for Aug. In season: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.

3 spots3 in season7 schools

Photo: Brendajane at English Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Cape Hatteras / Outer Banks, North Carolina

modelled windy

10–22 knFlat watertakes beginnersintermediateadvanced

North Americathermal sea breeze

Modelled share of windy days by month: Jan 61%, Feb 79%, Mar 71%, Apr 68%, May 60%, Jun 45%, Jul 44%, Aug 42%, Sep 50%, Oct 58%, Nov 68%, Dec 61%. In season: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.

5 spots5 in season7 schools

Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cape Cod, Massachusetts

modelled windy

5–14 knFlat waterLagoontakes beginnersintermediateadvanced

North Americathermal sea breeze

Modelled share of windy days by month: Feb 60%, Mar 60%, Apr 45%, May 50%, Jun 35%, Jul 32%, Aug 35%, Sep 40%, Oct 42%, Nov 53%. No figure for Jan, Dec. In season: Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov.

6 spots4 in season3 schools

Photo: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Riders name it; the model does not

8 destinations

A spot lists May among its best months and the modelled share is below half. These are not weaker places: both figures are drawn and neither is adjusted.

Arlington & Threemile Canyon

riders' months

15–30 knWavesintermediateadvanced

North America

Modelled share of windy days by month: Mar 31%, Apr 33%, May 39%, Jun 35%, Jul 40%, Aug 26%, Sep 28%, Oct 11%, Nov 15%. No figure for Jan, Feb, Dec. In season: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov.

2 spots2 in seasonno school on the atlas

South Carolina — Folly Beach South End to Isle of Palms South End

riders' months

15–25 kntakes beginnersintermediateadvanced

North Americathermal sea breeze

Modelled share of windy days by month: Mar 31%, Apr 32%, May 37%, Sep 17%. No figure for Jan, Feb, Jun, Jul, Aug, Oct, Nov, Dec. In season: Mar, Apr, May, Sep.

3 spots2 in season4 schools

Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Maui - Kite Beach (Kanaha)

riders' months

15–30 knChopWavestakes beginnersintermediateadvanced

North Americatrade wind

Modelled share of windy days by month: Apr 2%, May 2%, Jun 0%, Jul 0%, Aug 3%, Sep 0%, Oct 2%, Nov 7%. No figure for Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec. In season: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov.

6 spots5 in season6 schools

Photo: Kirt Edblom, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Florida Keys - Islamorada

riders' months

15–25 knFlat watertakes beginnersintermediateadvanced

North Americatrade wind

Modelled share of windy days by month: Jan 45%, Feb 33%, Mar 48%, Apr 63%, May 31%, Oct 56%, Nov 52%, Dec 55%. No figure for Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep. In season: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec.

2 spots1 in season3 schools

U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (public domain)

Lake Michigan

riders' months

8–16 kntakes beginnersintermediateadvanced

North America

Modelled share of windy days by month: Jan 50%, Feb 72%, Mar 61%, Apr 63%, May 37%, Sep 23%, Oct 68%, Nov 77%, Dec 58%. No figure for Jun, Jul, Aug. In season: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.

2 spots1 in season1 school

Enzo Arcamone, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Jekyll Island Kite Beach & Saint Simons Island East Beach

riders' months

6–8 knLagoontakes beginnersintermediateadvanced

North Americathermal sea breeze

Modelled share of windy days by month: Mar 23%, Apr 25%, May 29%, Jun 20%, Jul 8%, Aug 15%, Sep 23%. No figure for Jan, Feb, Oct, Nov, Dec. In season: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.

2 spots1 in season2 schools

gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Show all 2 more in Riders name it; the model does not

Oahu North Shore

riders' months

intermediateadvanced

North America

Modelled share of windy days by month: Mar 32%, Apr 23%, May 11%, Jun 25%, Jul 29%, Aug 24%, Sep 13%, Oct 11%, Nov 28%. No figure for Jan, Feb, Dec. In season: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov.

2 spots1 in seasonno school on the atlas

Steven Pavlov, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Lakes Bay & North Brigantine

riders' months

16–21 kntakes beginnersintermediateadvanced

North Americathermal sea breeze

Modelled share of windy days by month: May 5%, Jun 23%, Jul 6%, Aug 11%, Sep 7%, Oct 10%. No figure for Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec. In season: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.

2 spots1 in season4 schools

Scott Rettberg from Bergen, Norway, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

No wind series here

12 destinations

In season on riders' months alone: no spot at these destinations carries a usable modelled series.

Florida Keys - Key West

no series

15–25 knFlat waterintermediateadvanced

North Americatrade wind

No figure for Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. In season: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Nov, Dec.

1 spot1 in season5 schools

Photo: Juliancolton (public domain)

Great Lakes - Chicago

no series

10–20 knintermediateadvanced

North Americatrade wind

No figure for Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. In season: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.

1 spot1 in season2 schools

Photo: victorgrigas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

North Padre Island

no series

11–14 knLagoonWavesFlat waterintermediateadvanced

North Americathermal sea breeze

No figure for Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. In season: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul.

3 spots3 in season3 schools

Jennifer Rangubphai, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Oahu - Kailua

no series

12–18 knLagoontakes beginnersintermediateadvanced

North Americatrade wind

No figure for Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. In season: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.

6 spots4 in season4 schools

Photo: Tony Webster / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

St. Petersburg

no series

13–17 knFlat watertakes beginnersintermediateadvanced

North Americathermal sea breeze

No figure for Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. In season: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec.

3 spots3 in season1 school

Roger W from Sarasota, Florida, U.S.A. / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

520 Slick & Jetty Park

no series

8–11 knintermediateadvanced

North Americathermal sea breeze

No figure for Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. In season: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec.

2 spots2 in season1 school

jesseasmith, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Show all 6 more in No wind series here

Dunedin Causeway & Fred Howard Park

no series

intermediateadvanced

North Americathermal sea breeze

No figure for Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. In season: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec.

2 spots2 in season4 schools

Pleasure Bay & Dog Beach

no series

10–20 knintermediateadvanced

North America

No figure for Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. In season: Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov.

2 spots2 in season3 schools

Kelly Sikkema kelsikkema, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Miami

no series

15–20 knFlat watertakes beginnersintermediateadvanced

North Americathermal sea breeze

No figure for Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. In season: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.

3 spots2 in season8 schools

Photo: Mathieu Plourde, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Florida Keys - Marathon

no series

15–25 knFlat watertakes beginnersintermediateadvanced

North Americatrade wind

No figure for Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. In season: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec.

3 spots2 in seasonno school on the atlas

Photo: Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Florida Keys - Little Duck Key

no series

15–20 knFlat watertakes beginnersintermediateadvanced

North Americatrade wind

No figure for Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. In season: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.

2 spots1 in seasonno school on the atlas

Flip Schulke / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (public domain)

Golden Gardens & Richmond Beach

no series

12–20 knChopintermediateadvanced

North America

No figure for Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. In season: Jan, Feb, Mar, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.

2 spots1 in season1 school

Visitor7, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How this list is ordered, and what puts a destination on it

Ordered by the modelled share of windy days in May where a spot carries a series (13 of 25 here); where a destination groups several spots, the share shown is the best of them, and the spot it was modelled at is printed under the figure on every card.

USA beyond May

The USA country guide covers visa, money, driving and the rules that apply everywhere in the country. Where to kitesurf in May lists the 305 destinations in season elsewhere this month.

USA has three or more destinations in season in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December.

Kite bag rules for your airline

USA

Type the carrier you are flying: what it charges for a kite bag, and the year of the policy that says so.

Your airline

Known for USA:Southwest Airlines Delta / American / United

Every carrier, with limits and what riders report at the counter →