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Willapa Bay / Columbia River kitesurf and wingfoil spot

United States · Washington

Spot currently openAdvanced levelAltitude 1 m 46.31 | -124.02

Overview

Willapa Bay is a kitesurfing spot on the southern coast of Washington State. It's one of the largest estuaries on the Pacific coast, with vast marshlands and sand flats exposed at low tide. The bay offers a body of water sheltered from the open ocean but heavily influenced by tides. Currents at the bay entrance are extremely strong and dangerous. The bay is renowned for oyster farming and its rich wildlife.

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Spot forecast for Willapa Bay / Columbia River

Sunrise 07:40 · Sunset 18:20

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

Next tides

  • Low tide · 1.2 m
  • High tide · 2.8 m
  • Low tide · 1.9 m
  • High tide · 2.7 m

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Willapa Bay / Columbia River: 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

284h

in May · 29 rideable days

The season runs from March to July, peaking in May: 26 rideable days a month and 284 hours of usable wind, at 14 °C. The low point is January, at 14.5 days.

Rideable days per month

0 10 20 30 January: 14.5 rideable days14.5 d J February: 14.5 rideable days14.5 d F March: 23 rideable days M April: 26.5 rideable days A May: 29 rideable days29 d M June: 24.5 rideable days J July: 27 rideable days J August: 19.5 rideable days A September: 18.5 rideable days S October: 17.5 rideable days O November: 15.5 rideable days N December: 20 rideable days D 0 10 20 30 January: 14.5 rideable days14.5 d J February: 14.5 rideable days14.5 d F March: 23 rideable days M April: 26.5 rideable days A May: 29 rideable days29 d M June: 24.5 rideable days J July: 27 rideable days J August: 19.5 rideable days A September: 18.5 rideable days S October: 17.5 rideable days O November: 15.5 rideable days N December: 20 rideable days D

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 83%13-20 knots · 16%21-30 knots · 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 83% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 9 °C. The wettest month is December, with 206 mm.

Monthly averages: Willapa Bay / Columbia River
Monthly averages — Willapa Bay / Columbia River — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month Rideable days Usable wind Temperature Rain
January 14.5 127 h 9 °C 141 mm
February 14.5 115 h 9 °C 139 mm
March 23.0 212 h 11 °C 105 mm
April 26.5 224 h 13 °C 46 mm
May 29.0 284 h 14 °C 38 mm
June 24.5 263 h 16 °C 30 mm
July 27.0 263 h 18 °C 8 mm
August 19.5 153 h 19 °C 19 mm
September 18.5 121 h 18 °C 31 mm
October 17.5 146 h 15 °C 111 mm
November 15.5 129 h 11 °C 187 mm
December 20.0 157 h 10 °C 206 mm

Photo gallery of Willapa Bay / Columbia River

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Technical details of Willapa Bay / Columbia River spot

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

The spot works with winds from N, SSE, S, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW.

Rideable Not rideable
Spot opening date · Required level
Spot opening date
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On the water

Large estuary with cold saltwater (8-13°C/46-55°F). A 4/3 to 5/3mm wetsuit recommended. Flat water to light chop in the sheltered bay. Vast very shallow areas at low tide. Strong tidal currents, especially at the entrance. Muddy and sandy bottom with oyster beds — watch for oyster farming structures.

Hazards

Extremely strong tidal currents at the bay entrance — life-threatening danger. Cold water — hypothermia. Vast mud flats at low tide — risk of being stranded far from water. Submerged oyster farming structures that can cause injury. Protected wildlife — respect nesting areas. Very isolated spot with few services. Frequent coastal fog.

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Nearby spots

All spots: Washington

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