Overview

Kalama is a kitesurfing spot on the Columbia River in southwestern Washington State, downstream from the Gorge. This lower Columbia section is influenced by ocean tides that push upstream. The body of water is wide with flat water conditions. Winds are less reliable than in the Gorge but sessions are possible with summer thermal breezes. The small town of Kalama offers easy river access with a marina and services.

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Spot forecast for Kalama / Columbia River

Sunrise 07:35 · Sunset 18:16

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

Next tides

Low tide Tue 20 · 02:58 · 1.1 m
High tide Tue 20 · 09:51 · 3 m
Low tide Tue 20 · 15:36 · 1.8 m
High tide Tue 20 · 21:21 · 2.9 m

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Kalama / 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

34h

in May · 6.5 rideable days

The season runs from April to July, peaking in May: 5 rideable days a month and 34 hours of usable wind, at 21 °C. The low point is February, at 0 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 99%13-20 knots · 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 99% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 8 °C. The wettest month is November, with 161 mm.

Monthly averages: Kalama / Columbia River

Monthly averages — Kalama / 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	1.5	10 h	8 °C	123 mm
February	0.0	2 h	9 °C	98 mm
March	1.0	5 h	12 °C	100 mm
April	4.5	23 h	16 °C	46 mm
May	6.5	34 h	19 °C	40 mm
June	3.5	15 h	23 °C	36 mm
July	4.5	18 h	27 °C	2 mm
August	1.0	4 h	27 °C	20 mm
September	1.5	5 h	24 °C	42 mm
October	0.5	2 h	17 °C	85 mm
November	0.0	3 h	11 °C	161 mm
December	0.0	1 h	9 °C	160 mm

Photo gallery of Kalama / Columbia River

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Technical details of Kalama / Columbia River spot

The spot works with winds from SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW.

Rideable Not rideable

Spot opening date · Required level

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

On the water

Lower Columbia with fresh to brackish water, influenced by tides. Variable temperature (10-20°C/50-68°F depending on season). A 3/2 to 4/3mm wetsuit. Flat water to light chop. River current combined with tidal currents. Sandy to muddy bottom. Wide body of water.

Hazards

Heavy barge and cargo ship traffic on the lower Columbia. River current combined with tides. Frequent driftwood. Views of Mount St. Helens — thunderstorms possible in summer. The river is very wide — do not cross due to maritime traffic.

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Live

EW7861 Kalama4 kmsource noaa

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Additional stations

GW0699 Kelso9.1 km

Readings reserved for Premium members
source noaa
FW8658 Columbia City9.2 km

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source noaa

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Webcams near Kalama / Columbia River

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Nearby spots

All spots: Washington

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Kalama / Columbia River kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot