nnowakow wrote:We had booked to stay at Silver Sands in Key Biscayne from Feb 1 - 4 since it said we could walk to kiteboarding. Well, we just found out that in northwest wind, we would have to take a boat across the bay to get to decent kiteboarding. So we are thinking of canceling our stay there. But, first I wanted to find out what the general wind direction tends to be at Crandon in Feb...anyone know?
Is there any place we can stay at near Miami in February that would allow us to walk to kiteboarding?
Thanks.
Natasha
Hey Natasha,
There is no general wind direction for SE Florida, our weather simply isn't like that. It usually rotates clockwise with each passing cold front this time of year. The front approaches and the wind shifts to the S, then SW, then W clocking to NW. It may stay for a time out of the NW, usually from hours to one to three days often building in speed. It is very rare for it to stay NW for two weeks as is happening now. It is just as rare to have snow flurries in Central Florida, again as now (tonight). As the front passes usually it clocks to the N, then to the NE and often builds in wind speed. Now you're talking a good direction for kiting the Atlantic side of Key Biscayne. It may hang in the northeast for hours to several days, then shift the the E, then to the SE weakening somewhat and then clock back to the S with the next front.
If multiple fronts slam into one another as is happening currently, this nice clockwise progression can be disturbed as it happening right now. Remember, the great thing about kiting in Miami AND using sea taxi services is you can stay there,drink too much in Sobe each night (if so inclined) and still kite everyday there, wind regardless of direction as long as there is useable wind. The Atlantic side of Key Biscayne works for ENE to E to S. For the rest sea taxi to the flats is a good way to go. Usually, we have a fair amount of time in the ENE to S with passing fronts. Just not right now. The wind can ease between fronts so kiteable winds aren't assured at all times however as has already been said, Feb. has a lot of useable wind for kiting there. Make sense? There really is no easy, fairly safe shoreside launch for NW winds in Miami. Boating to the Flats or driving to the west coast or to the Keys to boat into Florida Bay are your main options for NW winds. Fortunately, easterly winds usually are more common here, just not now!