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Potholes Reservoir kitesurf and wingfoil spot

United States · Washington

Spot currently openIntermediate levelAltitude 318 m 47 | -119.28

Overview

Potholes Reservoir is a kitesurfing spot in the Columbia Basin desert, in central Washington State, at 318 meters altitude. This reservoir is surrounded by an arid steppe landscape with basalt rock formations. The waterway offers excellent flatwater conditions with regular winds blowing across the desert plateau. Summers are hot and dry with intense sunshine, providing ideal kitesurfing conditions. The reservoir is part of Potholes State Park.

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Spot forecast for Potholes Reservoir

Sunrise 07:22 · Sunset 18:00

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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

Potholes Reservoir: 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

189h

in April · 21.5 rideable days

The season runs from March to August, peaking in April: 20 rideable days a month and 189 hours of usable wind, at 24 °C. The low point is January, at 8.5 days.

Rideable days per month

0 10 20 30 January: 8.5 rideable days8.5 d J February: 13 rideable days F March: 19.5 rideable days M April: 21.5 rideable days21.5 d A May: 21.5 rideable days M June: 20.5 rideable days J July: 19.5 rideable days J August: 19 rideable days A September: 16 rideable days S October: 17 rideable days O November: 11.5 rideable days N December: 14 rideable days D 0 10 20 30 January: 8.5 rideable days8.5 d J February: 13 rideable days F March: 19.5 rideable days M April: 21.5 rideable days21.5 d A May: 21.5 rideable days M June: 20.5 rideable days J July: 19.5 rideable days J August: 19 rideable days A September: 16 rideable days S October: 17 rideable days O November: 11.5 rideable days N December: 14 rideable days D

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 77%13-20 knots · 22%21-30 knots · 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 77% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 2 °C. The wettest month is December, with 39 mm.

Monthly averages: Potholes Reservoir
Monthly averages — Potholes Reservoir — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month Rideable days Usable wind Temperature Rain
January 8.5 62 h 2 °C 23 mm
February 13.0 97 h 6 °C 12 mm
March 19.5 155 h 14 °C 5 mm
April 21.5 189 h 18 °C 4 mm
May 21.5 199 h 23 °C 2 mm
June 20.5 177 h 27 °C 6 mm
July 19.5 146 h 33 °C 0 mm
August 19.0 154 h 31 °C 2 mm
September 16.0 111 h 28 °C 2 mm
October 17.0 129 h 17 °C 12 mm
November 11.5 90 h 9 °C 34 mm
December 14.0 93 h 6 °C 39 mm

Photo gallery of Potholes Reservoir

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Technical details of Potholes Reservoir spot

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

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

Rideable Not rideable
Spot opening date · Required level
Spot opening date
Open all year round
Required level
Intermediate
On the water

Fresh reservoir water, warm in summer (18-24°C). Shorty or 3/2 wetsuit in summer. Sandy and rocky bottom with shallow areas. Flat waterway, ideal for freestyle and learning. Winds crossing the plateau at 12-25 knots in summer. The reservoir is well-sized, offering sufficient riding space. Conditions are reliable thanks to the semi-arid climate with little precipitation.

Hazards

Intense summer heat in the Columbia Basin desert: risk of dehydration and heatstroke. Little shade on the shores. Basalt rocks along the banks and below the surface. Recreational and fishing boat traffic, especially on weekends. Winds can be gusty through rock formations. Rattlesnakes possible in the surrounding steppe. Occasional summer thunderstorms with dangerous lightning.

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