What is the Best Weather for Kite Flying?
When you are flying a kite, you want the weather to be perfect! If you are heading out when there is no wind, your kite won’t fly, and if there is too much wind, you may lose control. You don’t want the wind to be too weak, nor do you want it to be too strong. So what is the best weather for kite flying?
The best weather conditions for kite flying depend on wind speed. In general, the larger and lighter kites fly easier when the wind is light to moderate, around 5-12 mph. For experienced kite flyers or when flying boxed kites, you can operate your kite in gustier winds with a speed of 8-25 mph.
Depending on the type of kite you are flying and the experience you are looking for, the perfect weather condition varies. For most people, you’d find the ideal weather is when the sky is clear, there is medium wind, and you can feel a breeze on your face.
In this article, we will be looking at the different weather conditions and how they can impact your kite flying. Depending on the strength of the wind, you will find that there are different types of kites which are easier to operate. Different factors are affecting the kite’s wind rage, such as the weight of the kite, the sails area, and the kite’s geometry. In general, for most hobby kite flyers, flying a standard kite (such as Diamonds, Deltas, and Dragon kites) will get a better experience when there is light to moderate wind.
Different weather conditions for kite flying
There are different types of kites, and therefore, depending on the kite you have, the best weather condition will vary. Standard kites are perfect for taking out when there is medium wind, and on more gusty days, Parafoils and Box kites will fly easier.Let me guide you through the different wind conditions and what types of kites work better and what you should consider.
The wind range provided in the tables below refers to the lowest, and the upper limit the kite is capable of flying. The wind range used is the Beaufort Wind Scale. This is one of the first scales to estimate wind speeds created back in 1805 by Sir Francis Beaufort.
Light Winds (1-7 mph)
On the days when the trees and bushes are not moving, and there is very little wind (1-7 mph), it’s challenging to fly a kite unless you have the experience. There are different types of kites that fly with light winds, for example, glider kites. As a beginner, this is not the type of kites or wind conditions you are looking for.
| Mph | Wind | Beaufort Description | Kite examples |
| 1-3 | Light Air | Direction of wind shown by smoke drift, but not by wind vanes. | Glider kite |
| 4-7 | Light Breeze | Wind felt on face; leaves rustle; ordinary vanes moved by wind. | Delta Diamond |
Medium Winds (8-24 mph)
Most kites don’t need a lot of wind, but they fly best when there is a gentle to moderate breeze. Standard kites such as the Delta and Diamond kites fly best with a wind speed of around 8-24 mph. These are great options to start with if you are a beginner. Find your open space and get out and enjoy the fun!
| Mph | Wind | Beaufort Description | Kite examples |
| 8-12 | Gentle Breeze | Leaves and small twigs in constant motion; wind extends light flag. | Delta Diamond Parafoil Box & Cellular |
| 13-18 | Moderate Breeze | Raises dust and loose paper; small branches are moved. | Delta Diamond Parafoil Box & Cellular |
| 19-24 | Fresh Breeze | Small trees in leaf begin to sway; crested wavelets form on inland waters. | Delta Diamond Parafoil Box & Cellular |
Strong Winds (25-38 mph)
When the trees are waving, and the winds are gusty, you should not head out with a kite unless you have the experience. It is much more challenging to operate a kite when the wind is strong. Kites such as the Parafoil and specialized kites require slightly stronger winds to fly best.
| Mph | Wind | Beaufort Description | Kite examples |
| 25-31 | Strong Breeze | Large branches in motion; whistling heard in telegraph wires; umbrellas used with difficulty. | Delta Box & Cellular |
| 32-38 | Near Gale | Whole trees in motion; inconvenience felt when walking against the wind. |
Extreme Winds (39 mph and above)
When the wind is extreme, it’s difficult to fly a kite. There are, however, some sport kites that can be operated in severe wind conditions. Unless you have a great experience, you should never head out when there is severe wind.
When the wind speed is more than 55 mph, it is considered to be a storm, and visibility is affected. I am not providing any details for these conditions as I think no one should take out a kite in such weather conditions. You should never fly your kite in extreme conditions or winds that are too strong for your skill or equipment.
| Mph | Wind | Beaufort Description | Kite examples |
| 39-46 | Gale | Breaks twigs off trees; generally impedes progress. | na |
| 47-54 | Severe Gale | Slight structural damage occurs (chimney-pots and slates removed) | na |
How do you know when there is perfect wind for kite flying?
We talk about miles per hour, light, medium, and strong wind. But how do you know what that means? We don’t need to be experts or learn how to measure wind speed to fly a kite. There are many great weather apps to check the wind forecast. My favorite one, which I always use to check the wind speed in my area is www.windfinder.com. You find your location on the map, zoom in, and click on the spot to get the most accurate wind speed.
Before you head out with your kite, check the app to see the weather forecast and the wind speed in your area. You may want to check whether the wind is predicted to change during the time you are planning to be out. You don’t want the wind to increase or decrease too much, and you should at all times, avoid taking out your kite if it is expected to be rain or lightning.
An alternative to using a weather app is to bring your own wind gauge like this Holdpeak 866B from Amazon. It’s a device used for measuring wind speed and direction. This can be great for beginners to use when you head out to check if the wind speed is in your favor. As you get more accustomed to kite flying, you may only need to watch trees and flags movement to monitor the wind conditions.
In what weather conditions should you never fly a kite?
There are other factors than the wind to consider when you fly a kite. You should never fly a kite when it’s raining or when there is a thunderstorm. Not only does it heavy and difficult to operate when it is wet, but it is also dangerous.
When a kite gets wet, it acts as a power cord, and electricity is attracted to nylon kite strings. You may have heard of the experience conducted by Benjamin Franklin back in 1752 when he brought out a kite during a thunderstorm and collected a charge in a Leyden jar when the kite was struck by lightning. The experience enabled him to demonstrate the electrical nature of lightning. So keep you kite indoors when the wind is strong, it’s raining, and clouds are gathering up.
You should also consider not heading out too late during the day to avoid getting surprised by the dark. Unless you have lights on your kite, you should never fly a kite when it cannot be seen. Not only will you not be able to enjoy it as you cannot see it, but you can also risk having the cord tangled up in a tree or other obstacle.
What season has better weather for kite flying?
When we are talking about seasons, some may argue that autumn is the best time for kite flying because it usually is windier. I would say that the best season for kite flying will vary depending on where you live. If you live in a country with different seasons, you may find that spring is the most pleasant time of the year to fly a kite. You will have milder weather, and you may find that the wind winds tend to gust more often.
But there is, in my opinion, not any season which is better than any other. It is your preference. I love taking out my kite during different times of the year. During the summer, we have hot days, and often the wind is very low, so we tend to head out more during spring, autumn, and even winter. During winter, the benefit is that there is more space as beaches are empty and fewer people are out. When you fly your kite in open areas with few people around, it gives freedom to fly your kite at your own pace. But there is, of course, also the safety aspect, that you will not get entangled with another individual’s kite.
As long as the wind is perfect, the season doesn’t matter. You may, though, find, and if you live in a place where you experience harsher winters, it can be challenging to operate a kite in the wind chill.
Conclusion
We are all looking for the best experience when we are flying our kites. Depending on the kite type, and your flying skills, your definition of perfect weather may vary!
In general, I think it is safe to say that when the sky is blue, the sun is out and the wind is moderate; we will have a great time flying our kites! Always remember to check what weather forecast before you head out to avoid any surprises. Use your common sense to decide if it’s a good day, or you are better off waiting until another day. Be sure to check out How High Can I Legally Fly a Kite to be sure you comply with local regulations.
