Overview

West End is located at the western tip of Dauphin Island, the most exposed and wildest part of the barrier island. This area is under constant erosion and geography changes after each hurricane and tropical storm. The western end can be partially submerged at high tide or during storms. The spot is advanced due to isolation, active erosion and currents. Shifting sandbars create an ever-changing landscape. It's a spectacular but dangerous location, reserved for very experienced riders.

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Spot forecast for West End

Sunrise 06:58 · Sunset 18:16

Open-Meteo

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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 0.5 km from the spot.

Tuesday 20 October High tide 05:01 · 0.6 m Low tide 14:37 · 0.3 m High tide 23:23 · 0.5 m
Wednesday 21 October Low tide 00:10 · 0.5 m High tide 06:31 · 0.6 m Low tide 14:39 · 0.3 m High tide 22:48 · 0.5 m
Thursday 22 October Low tide 01:52 · 0.5 m High tide 07:48 · 0.6 m Low tide 14:43 · 0.4 m High tide 20:34 · 0.5 m
Friday 23 October Low tide 02:59 · 0.4 m High tide 09:07 · 0.5 m Low tide 14:52 · 0.5 m High tide 20:36 · 0.6 m
Saturday 24 October Low tide 03:55 · 0.3 m High tide 13:02 · 0.5 m Low tide 14:48 · 0.5 m High tide 20:48 · 0.6 m

West End: 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

324h

in May · 30 rideable days

The season runs from March to August, peaking in May: 26 rideable days a month and 324 hours of usable wind, at 26 °C. The low point is December, at 13.5 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 71%13-20 knots · 27%21-30 knots · 2%31+ knots · under 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 71% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 12 °C. The wettest month is September, with 208 mm.

Monthly averages: West End

Monthly averages — West End — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	15.5	142 h	12 °C	86 mm
February	15.5	118 h	16 °C	101 mm
March	23.5	215 h	18 °C	141 mm
April	27.5	292 h	22 °C	65 mm
May	30.0	324 h	26 °C	118 mm
June	27.0	262 h	29 °C	125 mm
July	27.0	194 h	30 °C	56 mm
August	22.5	151 h	30 °C	130 mm
September	19.5	166 h	28 °C	208 mm
October	15.5	131 h	24 °C	151 mm
November	16.5	124 h	20 °C	111 mm
December	13.5	99 h	14 °C	114 mm

Photo gallery of West End

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Technical details of West End spot

The spot works with winds from ENE, 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: Advanced

On the water

Gulf of Mexico waves on an exposed sand point. Shifting sandbars and complex currents. Topography changes constantly — what was rideable one week may not be the next. In S to SW winds, conditions can be interesting with waves forming on the sandbars. Mobile sandy bottom.

Hazards

Extreme erosion zone — ground can shift beneath your feet. Complex currents around shifting sandbars. Risk of submersion at high tide. Very isolated area — no rescue nearby. Sharks in surrounding waters. Stingrays. Jellyfish. Submerged debris possible (remnants of hurricane-destroyed homes). Violent thunderstorms in summer. Hurricanes — this area is hit first. Spot for experts only.

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DISL Sofar Spotter17.7 kmsource NOAA Buoy

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Additional stations

Dauphin Island, AL NWLON11.3 km

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source madis - NOAA
Fort Morgan19.2 km

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source noaa

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Webcams near West End

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Nearby spots

All spots: Alabama

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West End kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot