Overview

Skyway Bridge South Rest Area is a kitesurfing spot located at the south rest area of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, on the Manatee County side. Like the north spot, it offers access to Tampa Bay from the bridge with water in all directions. Tidal currents are strong and the spot is reserved for experienced riders. The south side is closer to the bay entrance (Gulf of Mexico), which can create slightly different conditions with more fetch in southwest winds.

Suggest an edit

Spot forecast for Skyway Bridge South Rest Area

Sunrise 07:33 · Sunset 18:56

Open-Meteo

Premium weather models. Get the professional models (ECMWF, GFS, ICON, MeteoSwiss…) and a 16-day forecast. Without a subscription: Open-Meteo over 5 days.

Go Premium

< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Swell and waves

Swell and tides over 8 days. Premium members see the swell and tides over 8 days. Without a subscription: 5 days.

Go Premium

Wave height: < 0.5 m 0.5–1 m 1–2 m 2–3 m ≥ 3 m

Swell data by Open-Meteo Marine

Tides

Heights above lowest astronomical tide, in the spot's local time. Computed 2.7 km from the spot.

Tuesday 20 October High tide 00:29 · 0.7 m Low tide 03:41 · 0.6 m High tide 07:39 · 0.7 m Low tide 15:57 · 0.4 m High tide 22:50 · 0.7 m
Wednesday 21 October Low tide 04:15 · 0.6 m High tide 09:20 · 0.7 m Low tide 16:30 · 0.4 m High tide 22:39 · 0.7 m
Thursday 22 October Low tide 04:45 · 0.5 m High tide 10:24 · 0.7 m Low tide 16:59 · 0.4 m High tide 22:48 · 0.7 m
Friday 23 October Low tide 05:14 · 0.4 m High tide 11:20 · 0.7 m Low tide 17:22 · 0.5 m High tide 22:58 · 0.8 m
Saturday 24 October Low tide 05:46 · 0.3 m High tide 12:13 · 0.7 m Low tide 17:42 · 0.5 m High tide 23:12 · 0.8 m

Skyway Bridge South Rest Area: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

295h

in March · 31 rideable days

The spot works year-round: 28 rideable days a month on average, at 27 °C. It peaks in March, with 295 hours of usable wind.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 85%13-20 knots · 14%21-30 knots · 1%31+ knots · under 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 85% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 19 °C. The wettest month is June, with 417 mm.

Monthly averages: Skyway Bridge South Rest Area

Monthly averages — Skyway Bridge South Rest Area — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	28.0	284 h	19 °C	97 mm
February	25.0	236 h	22 °C	67 mm
March	31.0	295 h	25 °C	26 mm
April	30.0	342 h	28 °C	24 mm
May	30.5	321 h	31 °C	84 mm
June	25.0	243 h	31 °C	417 mm
July	28.0	209 h	32 °C	176 mm
August	29.5	251 h	31 °C	415 mm
September	26.0	188 h	31 °C	157 mm
October	30.5	304 h	29 °C	116 mm
November	27.0	209 h	26 °C	27 mm
December	26.5	217 h	23 °C	27 mm

Photo gallery of Skyway Bridge South Rest Area

This spot is waiting for its first images

Ridden here? One photo or video, and the spot comes alive for everyone discovering it.

Technical details of Skyway Bridge South Rest Area spot

The spot works with winds from N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW.

Rideable Not rideable

Spot opening date · Required level

Spot opening date: Open all year round
Required level: Advanced

On the water

The water body is similar to the north spot — in the heart of Tampa Bay with moderate to significant depth and strong currents. Closer to the gulf entrance, the fetch is greater in southwest winds, creating more pronounced chop. The water is warm. Sandy and muddy bottom.

Hazards

Same dangers as the north spot: very strong tidal currents, maritime traffic, bridge pilings to avoid, sharks. The proximity to the bay entrance increases the tidal current effect. Self-rescue ability essential. Spot reserved for very experienced riders.

Something out of date? Suggest an edit

Live

W4HIX-2 Palmetto6.2 kmsource noaa

Readings reserved for Premium members

Readings from W4HIX-2 Palmetto weather station are reserved for Premium members.

Real-time readings
Last 48 hours history
Custom alerts
Extended weather forecasts

Discover Premium

Already a Premium member? Log in

Additional stations

Liewald Nursery CCU6.5 km

Readings reserved for Premium members
source madis - NOAA
St Petersburg/Whitted Arpt20.5 km

Readings reserved for Premium members
source aviationweather.gov

All the details of your session on windtracker.app

Webcams near Skyway Bridge South Rest Area

Webcams provided by Windy.com

Nearby spots

All spots: Florida

Comments 0

No comments yet.

Log in to comment

Skyway Bridge South Rest Area kitesurf and wingfoil spot