Windy Season St Petersburg
The windy season in St Petersburg begins in October and will last until June. It is solely based on when cold fronts begin coming through. A cold front is the boundary of a mass of cooler air. In October, the Jet Stream dips low enough that the cooler air from the north passes over St Petersburg. The change in temperature and pressure in the atmosphere will result in wind. To stronger the cold front, the stronger the wind.
We will typically get wind before and after the cold front passes. Before the cold front we’ll get warm, tropical wind that comes from out of the south. One of the best places to ride before a front and when the wind is blowing out of the south is Fort Desoto East Beach. After a cold front passes through, the wind direction will change to either the north or northwest. When the direction of the wind is out of the northwest, the west side of the Skyway Bridge will be the best flat water place to kiteboard. For the days after a cold front, the wind will change again to the northeast. Northeasterly winds are predominant in the morning or late afternoon and the best places to kiteboard are either Fort Desoto East Beach or the east side of the Skyway Bridge.
It is not safe to be out when a cold front passes through. The front boundary usually brings strong thunderstorms and a rapid change of wind direction. As the front passes a squall is also possible, where the wind instantly picks up creating dangerous conditions. The best times to kiteboard are always before and after a cold front.
