Overview

Kiawah Island is a kitesurfing spot on the Kiawah barrier island, an exclusive residential community southwest of Charleston. The island offers a long fine sand beach facing southeast, renowned as one of the most beautiful beaches in the United States. The wide, uncrowded beach offers plenty of space for kitesurfing. Conditions are excellent with good coastal winds and moderate waves. Access may be limited for non-residents — check access conditions.

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Spot forecast for Kiawah Island

Sunrise 07:28 · Sunset 18:41

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< 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.

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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 5 km from the spot.

Tuesday 20 October High tide 03:37 · 1.6 m Low tide 09:41 · 0.7 m High tide 15:59 · 1.8 m Low tide 22:19 · 0.6 m
Wednesday 21 October High tide 04:26 · 1.7 m Low tide 10:33 · 0.6 m High tide 16:47 · 1.9 m Low tide 23:01 · 0.5 m
Thursday 22 October High tide 05:12 · 1.8 m Low tide 11:20 · 0.5 m High tide 17:32 · 1.9 m Low tide 23:39 · 0.5 m
Friday 23 October High tide 05:56 · 2 m Low tide 12:05 · 0.4 m High tide 18:16 · 1.9 m
Saturday 24 October Low tide 00:18 · 0.4 m High tide 06:39 · 2.1 m Low tide 12:50 · 0.3 m High tide 19:00 · 2 m

Kiawah 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

293h

in June · 30 rideable days

The season runs from March to September, peaking in June: 27 rideable days a month and 293 hours of usable wind, at 28 °C. The low point is January, at 13 days.

Rideable days per month

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 13 °C. The wettest month is August, with 360 mm.

Monthly averages: Kiawah Island

Monthly averages — Kiawah 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	13.0	92 h	13 °C	50 mm
February	21.0	147 h	17 °C	31 mm
March	24.5	201 h	21 °C	143 mm
April	27.0	233 h	24 °C	86 mm
May	25.5	207 h	28 °C	100 mm
June	30.0	293 h	30 °C	52 mm
July	28.0	241 h	32 °C	60 mm
August	26.5	212 h	30 °C	360 mm
September	27.0	238 h	28 °C	59 mm
October	22.5	204 h	24 °C	101 mm
November	16.0	94 h	21 °C	30 mm
December	15.5	110 h	16 °C	61 mm

Photo gallery of Kiawah Island

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Technical details of Kiawah Island spot

The spot works with winds from N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW.

Rideable Not rideable

Spot opening date · Required level

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

On the water

Atlantic Ocean with moderate waves. Wide beach with sandbars at low tide creating flat water areas. Tidal currents present. Warm water from May to October. Sandy bottom. Pleasant conditions for wave kitesurfing and freeride.

Hazards

Tidal and longshore currents. Sharks frequent in Kiawah waters — area known for sightings. Jellyfish in summer. Limited access — private community with restrictions. Alligators in lagoons and waterways behind the island. Thunderstorms possible in summer.

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Charleston Executive Airport Airport14.1 kmsource aviationweather.gov

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Additional stations

Charleston Executive Airport14.1 km

Readings reserved for Premium members
source noaa
GW1509 WADMALAW ISLAND8.9 km

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source noaa

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Webcams near Kiawah Island

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Nearby spots

All spots: South Carolina

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Kiawah Island kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot