Sunshine Skyway & Fort De Soto
Live Connected
Updated: 2026-10-20 19:52 EDT
Sunshine Skyway Bridge & Fort De Soto Park, Tampa Bay / Gulf Mouth, Florida
Verdict: Moderate Kiteable Day (14 mph avg)
Today: Today featured active gradient breeze across the coastal bays with verified side-onshore riding windows at protected launches.
Tomorrow: Tomorrow brings rideable breeze averaging 14 mph, suitable for standard to large quiver setups.
Today: Tuesday, October 20, 2026
☀️ Sunrise: 7:33 AM
🌅 Sunset: 6:58 PM
Astronomical Tide Extremes:
High Tide
12:02 AM • 1.81 ft
Low Tide
03:22 AM • 1.66 ft
High Tide
08:59 AM • 2.08 ft
Low Tide
04:30 PM • 0.57 ft
High Tide
11:35 PM • 1.84 ft
| Time | Tide | Wind & Confidence | Weather | Model Consensus & Observations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
08:00 AM
(past, no obs)
|
2.0 ft ↑ |
no obs / n/a
—
n/a (obs)
|
☀️
Sunny
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
Hour elapsed; historical station stream unavailable. |
|
09:00 AM
(past, no obs)
|
2.1 ft ↓ |
no obs / n/a
—
n/a (obs)
|
☀️
Sunny
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
Hour elapsed; historical station stream unavailable. |
|
10:00 AM
(past, no obs)
|
2.0 ft ↓ |
no obs / n/a
—
n/a (obs)
|
☀️
Sunny
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
Hour elapsed; historical station stream unavailable. |
|
11:00 AM
(past, no obs)
|
1.8 ft ↓ |
no obs / n/a
—
n/a (obs)
|
☀️
Sunny
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
Hour elapsed; historical station stream unavailable. |
|
12:00 PM
(past, no obs)
|
1.6 ft ↓ |
no obs / n/a
—
n/a (obs)
|
☀️
Sunny
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
Hour elapsed; historical station stream unavailable. |
|
01:00 PM
(past, no obs)
|
1.2 ft ↓ |
no obs / n/a
—
n/a (obs)
|
☀️
Sunny
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
Hour elapsed; historical station stream unavailable. |
|
02:00 PM
(past, no obs)
|
0.9 ft ↓ |
no obs / n/a
—
n/a (obs)
|
☀️
Sunny
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
Hour elapsed; historical station stream unavailable. |
|
03:00 PM
(past, no obs)
|
0.7 ft ↓ |
no obs / n/a
—
n/a (obs)
|
☀️
Sunny
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
Hour elapsed; historical station stream unavailable. |
|
04:00 PM
(past, no obs)
|
0.6 ft ↓ |
no obs / n/a
—
n/a (obs)
|
☀️
Sunny
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
Hour elapsed; historical station stream unavailable. |
|
05:00 PM
(past, no obs)
|
0.6 ft ↑ |
no obs / n/a
—
n/a (obs)
|
☀️
Sunny
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
Hour elapsed; historical station stream unavailable. |
|
06:00 PM
(past, no obs)
|
0.7 ft ↑ |
no obs / n/a
—
n/a (obs)
|
☀️
Sunny
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
Hour elapsed; historical station stream unavailable. |
|
07:00 PM
(past, no obs)
|
0.9 ft ↑ |
no obs / n/a
—
n/a (obs)
|
☀️
Sunny
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
Hour elapsed; historical station stream unavailable. |
|
08:00 PM
|
1.2 ft ↑ |
22 /
24 mph
↓ NNE
80% conf
|
☀️
Sunny / Clear
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
NWP ensemble consensus 22 mph NNE. Marine gradient holds firm. |
Tomorrow: Wednesday, October 21, 2026
☀️ Sunrise: 7:33 AM
🌅 Sunset: 6:58 PM
Astronomical Tide Extremes:
Low Tide
04:26 AM • 1.40 ft
High Tide
10:18 AM • 2.09 ft
Low Tide
05:10 PM • 0.66 ft
High Tide
11:41 PM • 1.93 ft
| Time | Tide | Wind & Confidence | Weather | Model Consensus & Observations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
08:00 AM
|
1.9 ft ↑ |
15 /
16 mph
↓ NNE
72% conf
|
☀️
Sunny / Clear
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
NWP ensemble consensus 15 mph NNE. Marine gradient holds firm. |
|
09:00 AM
|
2.0 ft ↑ |
14 /
15 mph
↓ NNE
72% conf
|
☀️
Sunny / Clear
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
NWP ensemble consensus 14 mph NNE. Marine gradient holds firm. |
|
10:00 AM
|
2.1 ft ↑ |
15 /
16 mph
↓ NNE
71% conf
|
☀️
Sunny / Clear
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
NWP ensemble consensus 15 mph NNE. Marine gradient holds firm. |
|
11:00 AM
|
2.1 ft ↓ |
13 /
14 mph
↓ NNE
71% conf
|
☀️
Sunny / Clear
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
NWP ensemble consensus 13 mph NNE. Marine gradient holds firm. |
|
12:00 PM
|
1.9 ft ↓ |
12 /
15 mph
↓ NNE
71% conf
|
☀️
Sunny / Clear
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
NWP ensemble consensus 12 mph NNE. Marine gradient holds firm. |
|
01:00 PM
|
1.6 ft ↓ |
12 /
~16 mph
↓ NNE
70% conf
|
☀️
Sunny / Clear
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
NWP ensemble consensus 12 mph NNE. Marine gradient holds firm. |
|
02:00 PM
|
1.3 ft ↓ |
12 /
14 mph
↓ NNE
70% conf
|
☁️
Overcast
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
NWP ensemble consensus 12 mph NNE. Marine gradient holds firm. |
|
03:00 PM
|
1.0 ft ↓ |
13 /
15 mph
↓ NNE
70% conf
|
☀️
Sunny / Clear
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
NWP ensemble consensus 13 mph NNE. Marine gradient holds firm. |
|
04:00 PM
|
0.8 ft ↓ |
12 /
15 mph
↓ NNE
69% conf
|
☀️
Sunny / Clear
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
NWP ensemble consensus 12 mph NNE. Marine gradient holds firm. |
|
05:00 PM
|
0.7 ft ↓ |
11 /
16 mph
↓ NNE
69% conf
|
☀️
Sunny / Clear
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
NWP ensemble consensus 11 mph NNE. Marine gradient holds firm. |
|
06:00 PM
|
0.7 ft ↑ |
15 /
17 mph
↓ NNE
69% conf
|
🌤️
Mainly Clear
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
NWP ensemble consensus 15 mph NNE. Marine gradient holds firm. |
|
07:00 PM
|
0.9 ft ↑ |
20 /
21 mph
↓ NNE
74% conf
|
⛅
Partly Cloudy
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
NWP ensemble consensus 20 mph NNE. Marine gradient holds firm. |
|
08:00 PM
|
1.2 ft ↑ |
20 /
22 mph
↓ NNE
73% conf
|
🌤️
Mainly Clear
T-storms none
~0.0 mm
|
NWP ensemble consensus 20 mph NNE. Marine gradient holds firm. |
What the Forecast Gives
- • Wind: Sustained 11–20 mph tomorrow with gusts pushing ~35 mph under gradient flow.
- • Direction: Steady NNE flow favoring east-facing causeway beaches while creating severe offshore drift at west-facing shorelines.
- • Tide & Depth: Midday falling tide will expose shallow shoals; plan launches around high water intervals.
- • Optimal Overlap: Morning rising or early ebb cycle provides the cleanest combination of water clearance and powered wind.
Launch-Spot Suitability Matrix
Shoreline geometries are evaluated relative to prevailing wind vectors. Tides calculated from local MLLW datum.
| Launch Spot | Shore Faces | Wind Angle (Today / Tomorrow) | Tide & Depth Windows | Rating | Notes & Hazards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skyway East (Rest Area) | E (90°, Tampa Bay side) |
Today: NNE: Side-shore
Tomorrow: NNE: Side-onshore
|
Tide ≥ 1.0 ft: 8:00 AM – 3:10 PM & 7:15 PM – 8:00 PM
Tide ≥ 0.5 ft: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
Recommended | Top spot on E, NE, ENE, SE. Blown back to causeway. Deep water access off beach shelf. |
| Skyway West (Rest Area) | W to NW (~290°, Gulf-mouth side) |
Today: NNE: Side-shore
Tomorrow: NNE: Side-shore
|
Tide ≥ 1.0 ft: 8:00 AM – 3:10 PM & 7:15 PM – 8:00 PM
Tide ≥ 0.5 ft: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
Recommended | DO NOT LAUNCH on NE/ENE/E. Offshore flow into shipping channel. Best on W, WNW, SW, SSW. |
| Fort De Soto East Beach | SE (135°, Mullet Key Channel) |
Today: NNE: Side-offshore
Tomorrow: NNE: Side-shore
|
Tide ≥ 1.0 ft: 8:00 AM – 3:10 PM & 7:15 PM – 8:00 PM
Tide ≥ 0.5 ft: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
Do Not Launch | Flat water behind sandbars on NE/E/SE. Watch extreme low tides exposing sandbars and flats. |
| Fort De Soto North Beach | N to NW (~335°, Gulf side) |
Today: NNE: Side-onshore
Tomorrow: NNE: Side-onshore
|
Tide ≥ 1.0 ft: 8:00 AM – 3:10 PM & 7:15 PM – 8:00 PM
Tide ≥ 0.5 ft: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
Recommended | Side-shore on NE, but Bunces Pass tidal current is strong. Best on W, NW, N. |
⚠️ Marine & Site Hazards
- • Offshore drift at Skyway West and Fort De Soto North on Easterly / Northeasterly flow.
- • Deep-draft freighter and cruise ship navigation in Mullet Key Channel.
- • Sunshine Skyway bridge concrete pilings rotor turbulence (maintain 200-yard buffer).
- • Shallow sandbars, submerged shells, and stingrays exposed during tides below 0.5 ft MLLW.
- • Convective squalls, sudden outflow wind shifts, and lightning during warm-season fronts.
📈 Extended Multi-Day Outlook
- • Day 3: Brisk gradient flow begins gradual stabilization, holding 15–20 mph.
- • Day 4–5: High pressure drifts eastward, veering surface winds E to ESE at 12–16 mph.
- • Day 6–7: Troughing approaches the peninsula, introducing isolated rain chances and lighter afternoon sea breezes.
Data Basis & Provenance
Live astronomical predictions retrieved from NOAA CO-OPS, hourly atmospheric parameters modeled via Open-Meteo multi-model ensemble (HRRR/GFS/ECMWF), verified surface observations ingested from NWS/Aviation Weather METAR stations, and tidal water level curves computed via half-cosine harmonic interpolation.