Tybee Island 19th Street has no other spot on this map within 40 km of it. straight-line distance
When it fills in
Afternoon in summer.
The wind
locals call it thermal sea breeze
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
mixed
fills in: Afternoon in summer.
Typical strength
10-15 kt, sometimes 15-20+ kt in stronger sessions.
Thermal or synoptic
thermal and frontal
The quiver, in words
Indicative, reckoned from the local wind range rather than from what riders actually pump up: the usual 10-15 knot sea breeze puts a 75-85 kg rider on 12-14 m, and 9-10 m covers the 20-knot-plus days when a front or a hard thermal arrives.No local size guidance is published, so treat this as a starting point and expect the big kite more often than not in summer.
Direction to shore
The south tip is rounded, so a side-shore wind can turn offshore farther downwind. SW is the best direction, and NE also works.
Dominant direction
NE, SW
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan39
- Feb35
- Mar37
- Apr45
- May, riders' month55
- Jun, riders' month63
- Jul, riders' month44
- Aug, riders' month48
- Sep55
- Oct60
- Nov50
- Dec52
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+)
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: May, Jun, Jul, Aug.
- 39%Jan12°
- 35%Feb14°
- 37%Mar18°
- 45%Apr21°
- 55%May25°
- 63%Jun27°
- 44%Jul30°
- 48%Aug30°
- 55%Sep28°
- 60%Oct23°
- 50%Nov20°
- 52%Dec14°
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 | 39% | 63% | 56% | 13.3 kt | S | 15:00 | 11.3°C | 12.3°C | 62 |
| Feb | 35% | 67% | 53% | 13.9 kt | NE | 14:00 | 13.9°C | 13.9°C | 57 |
| Mar | 37% | 84% | 71% | 14.7 kt | S | 14:00 | 16.7°C | 17.5°C | 62 |
| Apr | 45% | 77% | 68% | 14.8 kt | S | 14:00 | 19.7°C | 20.9°C | 60 |
| May | 55% | 92% | 87% | 17 kt | S | 15:00 | 23.4°C | 24.7°C | 62 |
| Jun | 63% | 88% | 85% | 16.3 kt | SSE | 16:00 | 26.5°C | 27.2°C | 60 |
| Jul | 44% | 81% | 76% | 14.3 kt | SSE | 16:00 | 28°C | 30.4°C | 62 |
| Aug | 48% | 79% | 71% | 15.7 kt | SSE | 16:00 | 27.6°C | 30°C | 62 |
| Sep | 55% | 85% | 75% | 17.5 kt | NE | 14:00 | 25.2°C | 27.5°C | 60 |
| Oct | 60% | 79% | 73% | 15.8 kt | NNE | 10:00 | 20.5°C | 23°C | 62 |
| Nov | 50% | 67% | 58% | 15.1 kt | NE | 11:00 | 17.3°C | 19.5°C | 60 |
| Dec | 52% | 73% | 66% | 15.4 kt | NNE | 11:00 | 12.3°C | 14.3°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
ocean and island
Standing depth
Low tide opens shallow lagoons between the sandbars, and the south end stays shallow well out from the beach.
Tides
Very tide dependent; outgoing tide is best, and high tide can add waves, sign-post hazards and the need to stay upwind of the south jetty.
Temperature
27-29°C summer · 15-22°C winter
Wetsuit
Shorts, shorty or rash vest in summer; wetsuits are necessary November through April, with a 3/2 mm full suit suggested for the coldest period.
Currents
Outgoing tide is preferred because the current can cancel some of the wind. The water east of the Tybee Beach parking runs a powerful current and can carry moderate swell, the south tip demands tidal-current awareness, and the north end gets strong tidal flow out of the South Channel of the Savannah River.
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
3 schools name this spot
On your own
Room to launch: Big sandy beach with lots of room outside crowded summer midday periods.
Somewhere else
No neighbour on record
No other spot in the atlas sits within reach of this one.
Rescue
Launch
Follow Highway 80 to the south tip of Tybee Island at 19th Street and park; it is a short walk to the beach. The wider south-end riding area runs from Chatham Ave. to 19th Street.
Space
Big sandy beach with lots of room outside crowded summer midday periods.
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Ride the outgoing tide for the flattest lagoons and less current cancelling the wind.
- Go late in the day in high summer; the thermal is better and there is room on the sand.
- Stay upwind of the south jetty, keep off Tybee Beach Pier, and hold 100 yards from swimmers and surfers (2026).
- Walk the shoreline at high tide and note where the sign posts are before you ride close in.
- Treat west wind and the rounded tip with care: a side-shore line goes offshore as you head downwind.
- Pack a 3/2 mm full suit for November through April; shorts, a shorty or a rash vest the rest of the year.
Getting there
Airport
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) is the closest airport to Tybee Island.
Route
From Savannah, follow US-80 east to Tybee Island, then continue to the south end around 19th Street.
Transfer
About 45 minutes by car from Savannah/Hilton Head International to Tybee Island; downtown Savannah to Tybee is about 18 miles.
Cost level
medium
Staying
Tybee has hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts and more than 1000 vacation rentals.
No-wind days
surfing · kayaking · paddleboarding · dolphin cruises · jet ski tours · Tybee Lighthouse · marine life museum · biking · Historic Savannah
Photos
FAQ
When is the best time to kitesurf at Tybee Island 19th Street?
Summer afternoon thermal sea breezes are most reliable from May through August. Winter and spring bring cooler northeasterly frontal wind and emptier beaches, with wind blowing about three to four days a week.
Is Tybee Island 19th Street suitable for beginners?
Low tide can work for learning thanks to shallow flatwater lagoons, but the current, south jetty and rounded shoreline call for careful tide and downwind planning. True beginners should use instruction and stick to supervised low-tide conditions.
What is the wind like at Tybee Island 19th Street?
Wind is mixed thermal and frontal, dominant from NE and SW, typically in the 10-15 knot range with stronger gusts possible. The south tip is rounded, so side-shore wind can turn offshore farther downwind.
Are there rules for kiting at Tybee Island 19th Street?
As of 2025, riders should avoid high-summer midday crowds, not kite between the jetty and pier, wear a kite leash and never kite alone. City of Tybee 2026 beach rules also require staying 100 yards from swimmers and surfers and obeying lifeguard commands.
Are there kite schools near Tybee Island 19th Street?
The Board Loft, Georgia Kiteboarding and AOK Watersports / All Out Kiteboarding are listed as local schools serving the Tybee Island area.
Last updated: August 2026