Wind Speeds

• The most important factor in determining whether or not you have good kite flying conditions is the wind speed. On a day when there is not a lot of wind, it is difficult to get your kite into the air, and more so the bulkier your kite. On the other end of the spectrum, a day with harsh winds can make it difficult to control your kite and risks potentially damaging it, if the winds are too strong for your frame.
  
  

Other Weather Considerations

• In addition to the wind, you should monitor other weather conditions to ensure you have an enjoyable experience. While warm weather is not required for flying a kite, if you run with your kite, you may find the cold weather makes flying for an extended period of time difficult. Additionally, when skies are overcast, flying your kite leaves you susceptible to rain, should the skies open up, which can damage kites made of non-waterproof materials.
  
  

Judging Wind Speeds

• Learning to read the effects of wind around you and determine the speed of the wind is an invaluable tool for a kite-flying enthusiast. The first sign to watch for is smoke from chimneys or steam rising. If it rises straight up, the wind is less than 1 mph, while smoke drifting around means winds between 1 and 3 mph. Leaves moving in the wind shows speeds in excess of 4 mph, while twigs moving means an excess of 8 mph. Dust or papers on the ground moving shows strong winds over 13 mph, while trees swaying represents extremely fast winds over 19 mph.
  
  

Choosing a Kite

• Once you determine the wind speed, you can match your kite to the elements. Very light kites, such as zero wind kites, can be flown in minimal wind, such as 3 mph and less. Speeds in the high single digits or low double digits are ideal for most kites and offer the widest range of successful kites. As speeds reach the mid-teens, most kites reach their upper limits. Any speed over 18 mph is dangerous for any kite, other than specialized high-speed kites, such as vented kites.