Overview

Desert Aire is a kitesurfing spot on the Columbia River (Priest Rapids Reservoir) in central Washington State, at 150m elevation. This desert residential community offers access to the vast reservoir surrounded by the arid Columbia Basin landscape. Thermal winds channeled through the valley provide rideable conditions in summer. The body of water is wide with flat water. Desert setting with sparse vegetation.

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Spot forecast for Desert Aire

Sunrise 07:24 · Sunset 18:03

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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

Desert Aire: 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

205h

in June · 25.5 rideable days

The season runs from March to August, peaking in June: 22 rideable days a month and 205 hours of usable wind, at 27 °C. The low point is January, at 5.5 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 69%13-20 knots · 30%21-30 knots · 1%31+ knots · under 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 69% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 3 °C. The wettest month is November, with 49 mm.

Monthly averages: Desert Aire

Monthly averages — Desert Aire — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	5.5	41 h	3 °C	36 mm
February	7.5	41 h	7 °C	17 mm
March	18.5	128 h	16 °C	8 mm
April	20.0	169 h	20 °C	3 mm
May	23.0	207 h	25 °C	1 mm
June	25.5	205 h	30 °C	0 mm
July	23.0	206 h	35 °C	0 mm
August	20.5	137 h	33 °C	1 mm
September	15.0	83 h	30 °C	2 mm
October	13.0	75 h	18 °C	11 mm
November	9.5	55 h	10 °C	49 mm
December	8.5	38 h	7 °C	43 mm

Photo gallery of Desert Aire

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Technical details of Desert Aire spot

The spot works with winds from SSW, 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

Priest Rapids Reservoir with fresh water. Pleasant temperature in summer (18-23°C/64-73°F). Shorty to 3/2mm wetsuit in summer. Flat water to light chop. Moderate current in the channel. Sandy to rocky bottom. Wide body of water.

Hazards

Extreme summer heat (40°C/104°F+ common). Dehydration. Thermal winds with gusts. Rattlesnakes on the shores. Few services nearby. Summer thunderstorms possible. Recreational boat traffic.

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Beverly7.8 kmsource noaa

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Additional stations

Beverly WA US HMMN7.8 km

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source madis - NOAA

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Webcams near Desert Aire

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Nearby spots

All spots: Washington

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Desert Aire kitesurf and wingfoil spot