Dedicated kite fliers can be found out and about flying kites in almost any month. However, for the general populace, the more temperate months in Spring and Fall are much more suitable as compared to the the extreme heat of Summer or the chill of Winter.
Weather-wise, Fall, especially October, is prime kite-flying time in most of the United States. Temperatures tend to be favorable, and winds are often more constant and steadier than in Spring.
Why October?
In the US, Labor Day (first Monday of September) marks the end of Summer and the start of Autumn. The end of November is considered the end of the Fall season, giving way to Winter. We’ve chosen October as the best month to fly a kite due to the following reasons:
Weather
Except for the very end of the season, Fall is characterised by pleasant temperatures with many days of good weather. The winds are also steadier in Fall.
Temperature
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service, in Fall, the average temperatures range from a high of 72.7 degrees Fahrenheit in Florida, to a low of 26.7 °F in Alaska. Excluding Hawaii and Alaska, the entire United States’ season’s average temperate hovers around 54 °F.
In October 2019, the average temperature of the contiguous US was 52.3°F. While this meant some chilly mornings and evenings, with some warm clothing, it would be ideal to be outdoors. As kite flying is about enjoying time in nature, moderate temperatures makes October especially ideal.
Wind
Ideal wind speeds are anywhere between 8mph to 24mph. These winds will allow you to launch most beginner kites.
You will also want constant wind, since wind is your kite’s ‘engine’. Constant wind will help keep your kite stable in the sky.
In Spring, winds tend to be very gusty, which can cause your kite to fly erratically or even crash if you’re not careful. In Summer, there tends to be little to no winds, which make it very difficult to launch a kite. In Winter, there can be precipitation with the wind, which makes it difficult to see your kite, and can potentially damage your kite.
In Autumn, winds tend towards being a steady breeze – not too gusty, and not too light nor strong. This makes it easier to launch, fly, and retrieve your kite. In October, wind speeds in major cities tended to be between 5.8mph to 11.8mph, which mean little variance in wind speeds.
A lower variance in wind speeds also makes it easier to learn how to fly a kite, since conditions are much more stable. As always, you should check the weather report before heading out to fly a kite.
Rain
In Spring, the weather can become too warm too quickly, and bring about unexpected showers. While Fall can have its fair share of rain as well, you can count on plenty of days of good weather.
In the above image, you can see that the average rainfall from 2010 to 2019 in October is 2.55 inches. This is a lot lesser than the average rainfall of 3.35in in the month of May from 2010 to 2020.
The fact that there is less rain in October, and indeed in the Fall months, makes it easier to make plans to go out to fly a kite. This also means that it should be easier to find gaps in other people’s schedules as well, so that you can enjoy kite flying as group.
Family Time
Flying a kite is one of the most fun activities you can engage in with family members. Kite flying makes for a great family tradition, and can get everyone involved as they take turns holding on to the kite line, launching a kite, or even crafting one.
The traditional start date for the school year has been the Tuesday or Wednesday right after Labor Day. Although some schools still keep this tradition, many schools now start in the last two weeks of August and some schools (especially private ones) may start as late as the end of September or the first week in October.
Academic Term Dates – Wikipedia
With a later start for the school year, it means that homework rarely intensifies in October. In turn, this means that there are more opportunities to take kids out in the evenings or on the weekends for kite flying.
It requires relatively little equipment to fly a kite, and due to the weather, there is usually no need to bring extras like sunscreen, umbrellas, and other items that are typical to excursions in Summer. Depending on where you go (for example: the beach), you may still want to bring some of those things. With lesser set up and pack down time, you and your family can have a more rewarding experience and time flying the kite(s).
Less Competition For Space
When choosing a space to fly your kite, keep in mind that you are looking for open spaces that have little to no structures or trees in them. Make sure to stay far away from power lines and trees that could damage your kite or pose a risk to you.
Open fields are the best, with parks coming in as a close second. Beaches are also great, however as you’ll find in my short story below, that you need to keep an eye on various conditions to enjoy kite flying at the beach!
Most people believe that Spring is the season for kite flying – I hope this article has proven otherwise – and so open fields, parks, and beaches tend to fill up very quickly in spring time with kite fliers and spectators.
The more people in a particular area flying kites, the more difficult it is to do so safely. In windy conditions, it is easy for a kite to stray too far to one direction, and end up suddenly entangled with someone else’s kite, which is what happened to me.
This was at a busy beach, some time in the early evening. I had a large Delta kite flying high up in the sky, when suddenly I felt something tugging on my kite line. I looked up at the sky and squinted – it looked 2 other kites had their lines wrapped around my kite line. I started looking around to see if anyone else was tugging hard on their lines so I could ask them to stop and reel in both our lines together. Unfortunately, I could not find the owners of both the kites quickly enough. My kite line suddenly snapped and I watched as my Delta soared away over the tree line. It was all very surreal to see a kite just floating away, but I realised that my kite wasn’t the only ‘victim’ that day. It was just too crowded.
With fewer people out and about in Fall, it’s less likely that what happened to me will happen to you. Instead, you can focus on having fun, with bigger kites, tricks, and various maneuvers. Plus, it can be very beneficial to be able to slow down and sit quietly with flying a kite with little to no people around.
Conclusion
Any of the above reasons on their own might be good enough to motivate you dress up and head out. Whether you take the family along with you, or if you’re wanting to spend some time by yourself, in Fall you’ll be certain to encounter some of the most ideal conditions for kiting.
You should take advantage of good weather conditions in October, as Winter will soon be along, which usually mean much harsher conditions. As a result, there would be less opportunities to enjoy Mother Nature, especially since some nature parks or areas close entirely during Winter. Take advantage and enjoy these outdoor spaces in the cool of Fall, before you have to wait for the longest time for the flowers of Spring.
