Nearby Whiskey Run Beach 31 km · straight-line distance
On the clock
08:00 · 16:00 · 21:00
Mornings are light, which is when the lessons go out. On a strong day something is already moving by 08:00, the build runs through late morning, and the afternoon holds the most wind; it can keep going into the evening and only fade around 21:00. After 16:00 the water empties out and the wind is often still good.
The marks are the clock times the record names, laid on a 24-hour day. The bar between the first and the last covers those hours; it is not a promise of wind.
The wind
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
thermal
fills in: Mornings are light, which is when the lessons go out. On a strong day something is already moving by 08:00, the build runs through late morning, and the afternoon holds the most wind; it can keep going into the evening and only fade around 21:00. After 16:00 the water empties out and the wind is often still good.
Typical strength
15-25
Also on record
20
The quiver, in words
For a 75-85 kg rider: 10 m early, 7 m by around 11:00, 5 m for a loaded afternoon. One day can cover that whole range, so bring all three. In ideal conditions 20-30 mph is the normal band.
Direction to shore
N and NW is the direction you want on the lake. South rides but goes gusty off the trees at the south end, and an east-influenced wind makes the return to the east-side rigging area difficult.
Dominant direction
N to NW in the main season; SW is more typical in winter.
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan56
- Feb42
- Mar58
- Apr, riders' month50
- May, riders' month68
- Jun, riders' month67
- Jul, riders' month74
- Aug, riders' month48
- Sep, riders' month60
- Oct, riders' month35
- Nov32
- Dec35
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+)
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
- 56%Jan11°
- 42%Feb11°
- 58%Mar10°
- 50%Apr11°
- 68%May11°
- 67%Jun11°
- 74%Jul11°
- 48%Aug13°
- 60%Sep13°
- 35%Oct12°
- 32%Nov12°
- 35%Dec11°
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+) · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Windy days | Force 4+ | 12 kn or more | Knots | From | Peaks at | Air | Water | Readings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56% | 74% | 68% | 15.7 kt | SSW | 13:00 | 9.3°C | 11.2°C | 62 |
| Feb | 42% | 70% | 63% | 13.6 kt | SSW | 15:00 | 8.2°C | 10.7°C | 57 |
| Mar | 58% | 74% | 71% | 14.8 kt | SSW | 14:00 | 8.2°C | 10.1°C | 62 |
| Apr | 50% | 68% | 58% | 13.8 kt | NNE | 15:00 | 9.1°C | 10.7°C | 60 |
| May | 68% | 76% | 73% | 14.9 kt | NNE | 14:00 | 11.4°C | 11.1°C | 62 |
| Jun | 67% | 77% | 73% | 15 kt | NNE | 15:00 | 13.2°C | 10.6°C | 60 |
| Jul | 74% | 85% | 77% | 15.1 kt | NNE | 15:00 | 15.4°C | 11°C | 62 |
| Aug | 48% | 61% | 53% | 12.6 kt | NNE | 14:00 | 16.1°C | 13.1°C | 62 |
| Sep | 60% | 67% | 63% | 13.8 kt | NNE | 15:00 | 15.1°C | 12.5°C | 60 |
| Oct | 35% | 52% | 47% | 11.5 kt | NNE | 14:00 | 13.2°C | 12.1°C | 62 |
| Nov | 32% | 53% | 47% | 11.9 kt | SSW | 13:00 | 9.8°C | 11.9°C | 60 |
| Dec | 35% | 52% | 47% | 12.6 kt | SSW | 11:00 | 9.8°C | 11.1°C | 62 |
modelled
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.
Modelled from the operational forecast archive at 1.5–7 km (2023-2024), daylight hours only, not a ground station: it resolves thermal, lake and valley winds far better than coarse reanalysis but still tends to understate a strong local thermal. A windy day has at least three consecutive daylight hours at 12 knots or more. The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.
High-resolution weather model (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical forecast archive — best-match operational model (ICON-D2 / AROME / ICON-EU / GFS by region), not a ground station · 2023-2024
The water
Type
lake
Standing depth
Standable across much of the north end and along the west side, including the far-west beginner cove. It deepens toward the middle and south of the school: the upper quarter still takes a 28 in foil mast, longer masts want the water south of the school.No tide, so the depth you see in the morning is the depth all day.
Tides
No tidal effect on the lake.
Temperature
16-21°C summer
Wetsuit
A 3/2 can work in summer, but 4/3 is ample and 5/4 is better if you get cold. Full suits are the norm here because of wind chill rather than water temperature.
Currents
No meaningful current on the lake.
Your level
The scene
What riders come here for
Launch and rules
three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you
With a school or a boat
2 schools name this spot
On your own
Room to launch: Plenty of shoreline at the north end if riders spread out. The main launch is easy grass, lightly treed in places, right at the water.
Somewhere else
Whiskey Run Beach, 31 km
Every spot within 40 km is on the map at the top of this page, with its distance under it.
Rescue
Launch
Park at Boice Cope Park by the boat launch and follow the lakeside path south to the Floras Lake Windsports rigging area. Launch off the grass or sand at the east or north edge. The north end is sandy with little dune grass and enough room to rig well clear of other people.Beginners use the shallow cove on the west side, which sits downwind of both the kiters and the windsurfers.
Space
Plenty of shoreline at the north end if riders spread out. The main launch is easy grass, lightly treed in places, right at the water.
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Book lessons or a jet-ski pickup with the lake school ahead if you need instruction or upwind support.
- Learn in the morning. Afternoons are windier and the lake fills up.
- Pack the small kites as well as the mid-sizes: 10 m early, 7 m by late morning, 5 m on a strong afternoon.
- Bring a 4/3, or a 5/4 if you run cold; a 3/2 does work in summer but the wind chill is the problem, not the water.
- Keep relaunch practice out of the main traffic lane on busy days; use the downwind beginner cove or the shallower west side.
- The sensor at the main launch reads lower than the middle of the lake. A marginal number on the meter is often a session.
- Wait for the late shift. It thins out around 16:00 and the best sessions are frequently at 17:00.
Getting there
Airport
Southwest Oregon Regional Airport (OTH), North Bend
Route
Highway 101 to Langlois, then turn off toward Boice Cope Park and Floras Lake. Park by the boat ramp or the campground and walk south along the lake edge to the school and rigging area.
Transfer
60 min
Cost level
medium
Staying
The Boice Cope Park campground is right on the lake, and Floras Lake House Bed and Breakfast is next to it, with vacation rentals and RV options around Langlois and Bandon.
No-wind days
Kayaks and paddleboards from the lake school, the New River and Floras Lake area for hiking and walking, and the Oregon Coast beaches for sightseeing.
Photos
FAQ
Is Floras Lake good for beginners?
Yes, it is documented as one of Oregon's clearest beginner-friendly windsports venues, with shallow flat water and lessons at the shore, while the deeper middle suits stronger riders.
What is the wind like at Floras Lake?
North to northwest wind of about 15-25 knots is typical in the main season, often lighter in the morning and building through the afternoon.
When is the best time to kite Floras Lake?
The season runs roughly April through October, with June through August the most reliable and July the most consistent.
Is there rescue support at Floras Lake?
The local school can arrange jet-ski pickups for riders struggling to stay upwind, and rescues have happened there before.
Last updated: August 2026