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Fort Walton Beach / Santa Rosa Island kitesurf and wingfoil spot

United States · Florida

Spot currently openIntermediate levelAltitude 1 m 30.4 | -86.64

Overview

Fort Walton Beach is a kitesurfing spot located on Santa Rosa Island, between Destin and Pensacola, on the Emerald Coast. The beach faces south toward the Gulf of Mexico with the same white sand and emerald waters characteristic of this coast. The spot also benefits from bay side access (Choctawhatchee Bay) to the north for northerly wind days. Fort Walton Beach is a military town (Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field) with a laid-back local vibe.

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Spot forecast for Fort Walton Beach / Santa Rosa Island

Sunrise 06:52 · Sunset 18:10

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

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Swell and waves

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

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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.

6:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:00Tue 20Wed 21Thu 22Fri 23Sat 24 Now02:540.6 m14:410.3 m06:110.5 m13:520.3 m21:260.4 m00:290.4 m07:270.5 m14:010.4 m20:200.5 m02:070.4 m08:530.5 m14:040.4 m20:050.5 m03:170.3 m11:450.5 m13:010.5 m20:560.6 m
  • Tuesday 20 October High tide · 0.6 m Low tide · 0.3 m
  • Wednesday 21 October High tide · 0.5 m Low tide · 0.3 m High tide · 0.4 m
  • Thursday 22 October Low tide · 0.4 m High tide · 0.5 m Low tide · 0.4 m High tide · 0.5 m
  • Friday 23 October Low tide · 0.4 m High tide · 0.5 m Low tide · 0.4 m High tide · 0.5 m
  • Saturday 24 October Low tide · 0.3 m High tide · 0.5 m Low tide · 0.5 m High tide · 0.6 m

Fort Walton Beach / Santa Rosa Island: 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

220h

in June · 29 rideable days

The season runs from March to July, peaking in June: 26 rideable days a month and 220 hours of usable wind, at 27 °C. The low point is December, at 10 days.

Rideable days per month

0 10 20 30 January: 11.5 rideable days J February: 15.5 rideable days F March: 22.5 rideable days M April: 26.5 rideable days A May: 28.5 rideable days M June: 29 rideable days29 d J July: 25.5 rideable days J August: 19.5 rideable days A September: 20 rideable days S October: 15.5 rideable days O November: 13.5 rideable days N December: 10 rideable days10 d D 0 10 20 30 January: 11.5 rideable days J February: 15.5 rideable days F March: 22.5 rideable days M April: 26.5 rideable days A May: 28.5 rideable days M June: 29 rideable days29 d J July: 25.5 rideable days J August: 19.5 rideable days A September: 20 rideable days S October: 15.5 rideable days O November: 13.5 rideable days N December: 10 rideable days10 d D

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 89%13-20 knots · 10%21-30 knots · under 1%31+ knots · under 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 89% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 14 °C. The wettest month is May, with 230 mm.

Monthly averages: Fort Walton Beach / Santa Rosa Island
Monthly averages — Fort Walton Beach / Santa Rosa Island — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month Rideable days Usable wind Temperature Rain
January 11.5 99 h 14 °C 165 mm
February 15.5 111 h 19 °C 139 mm
March 22.5 184 h 21 °C 77 mm
April 26.5 247 h 24 °C 54 mm
May 28.5 261 h 28 °C 230 mm
June 29.0 220 h 31 °C 195 mm
July 25.5 171 h 32 °C 144 mm
August 19.5 127 h 32 °C 127 mm
September 20.0 116 h 30 °C 186 mm
October 15.5 85 h 27 °C 25 mm
November 13.5 97 h 23 °C 165 mm
December 10.0 56 h 18 °C 169 mm

Photo gallery of Fort Walton Beach / Santa Rosa Island

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Technical details of Fort Walton Beach / Santa Rosa Island spot

N: Not rideable NNE: Not rideable NE: Not rideable ENE: Not rideable E: Rideable ESE: Rideable SE: Rideable SSE: Rideable S: Rideable SSW: Rideable SW: Rideable WSW: Rideable W: Rideable WNW: Not rideable NW: Not rideable NNW: Not rideable N E S W

The spot works with winds from E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW, WSW, W.

Rideable Not rideable
Spot opening date · Required level
Spot opening date
Open all year round
Required level
Intermediate
On the water

The water body is identical to other Emerald Coast spots — Gulf of Mexico, white sand, emerald waters, gentle slope. Flat to chop conditions in south winds. The bay side (Choctawhatchee Bay) offers protected flat water. The water is warm.

Hazards

In northerly winds, conditions are offshore on the gulf side. Longshore drift currents. Military zones nearby (Eglin AFB) — respect restrictions. Busy beach in summer. Jellyfish possible.

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