Best time for South Padre?

wrhammer · Since 17 Jul 2009 40 Posts Battle Ground

What's the best time to book a trip to South Padre?
Places to stay... avoid?
I'm already bummed that the season is coming to a close here. Need something to look forward to!

tonyb · Sun Sep 20, 09 3:45 pm

We've had really good luck in November and December the last two winters. There is always a few days without wind but I don't think we've missed more than 4 or 5 days in a row in the winter. After that anytime after mid February is pretty good, just watch out for spring break week as it is a zoo. April is my favorite month of the year down there.

We're hoping to head down around the last week of October and arrive by Nov. 1st. Just have to get over this crazy thing called work.

Tony

bandito · Since 07 May 2005 178 Posts Photographer

Spring! 2nd best is Fall. No bad places really, just some nicer than others. It's been a bad month down her with no wind and now waves. Not that much fun when all there is to do is chase fish around.
bandito

mister_ed · Since 24 Jun 2009 12 Posts New Member

march - june is the almost-every-day thermal time of year - in the 80% range. that's the time for the epic down winders in small waves.

oct-feb is cold front driven. but a typical week is still pretty good. maybe a couple days south wind preceding the front. then a nuclear north wind. then a fading NE wind. then dead for a couple days waiting for the next front. so on average, you can score 4/6 days.

an extra good cycle can hit every day and be 6/6. but a bad cycle can be weak on the south wind and only one good day of north wind and be as low as 1/6 - but that's rare.

if you're able to book last minute, SPI is very easily predictable long range - up to 10 day. nothing like the gorge where it seems even in the morning the forecast can be way off for what happens in a few hours...

windpig · Since 28 Aug 2008 283 Posts Obsessed

All the above is pretty good info. I have been both Fall and spring. More consistent in the spring but pretty damn good in the fall as well. I am going to be there for Oct.- Nov/ dec. I am trying to get a place to stay for a couple of months. Let me know when your thinking about going I might be able to put you up for cheap.

cosmodog · Since 06 Oct 2005 205 Posts Stoked

Bonus event mid Nov - they are going to implode the 30+ story tower north of town. Should be a good show: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/09/21/business/AP-TX-Tower-Demolition.html?scp=19&sq=construction&st=cse

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Have had good luck with April, you will usually get at least light winds everyday then 2-3 days per week of strong winds. Fall is fickle!

Nick · Fri Sep 25, 09 7:40 am

I am headed down for a Demo Event and Riding Clinics from the 5th to the 8th of November. Let me know if any of you guys are going to be down there at the same time.

Cheers!