Spring is Here in Tampa Bay
Water temperatures in March can vary from being chilly to being warm. From needing a 3/2mm wetsuit to not needing a wetsuit at all. Having water temperatures and air temperatures that vary are good for creating wind. Add in drier air and you have a great combination for a thermal.
March is Windy
Our wind in March comes from both cold fronts and sea breezes. A sea breeze occurs from a change in temperature between land and sea. If the sun is out and the air is dry, you’re likely to see a sea breeze in the morning and afternoon. You’ll see a NE breeze in the morning from 8am until about 11am. In the afternoon you’ll most likely see a NW breeze from around 2pm until sunset. For southerly winds, they’ll typically pick up from around 10am until 4pm.
Forecasting
The forecast is not accurate 100% of the time. Apply the above rule to the forecast for a more accurate reading. For example, if the forecast shows 9-13mph out of the NE in the morning and the weather should be sunny and dry out, then you’re more likely to see 14-18mph out of the NE until about 10am. Later in the day you’ll likely see a NW breeze, about the same wind strength, starting in North County and working its way down.
Wind Patterns
As you can see from the wind statistics chart above from iKitesurf, the three most common wind directions are NW, NE and SSW. With each wind direction comes a certain tendency mentioned above. The basics are, NE winds are best in the early morning, NW are best in the afternoon and SSW are best late morning until mid afternoon.
Learning to Kiteboard
Just do it. March, April and May are some of the best months for wind plus it’s warm! Whether you’re wanting to get into kiteboarding or advance your skills, schedule your lesson with us today:
