Many thanks to South Padre Island Kiteboarding, Inc. and the Sea Ranch Restaurant and Bar for providing such an excellent sensor location. South Padre Island Kiteboarding is the islands only exclusive and dedicated, full service school and shop.

The Sea Ranch Restaurant and Bar is one of America's premier dining experiences. No trip to South Padre Island is complete without an evening dining on the water at Sea Ranch. Restaurant and Hospitality Magazine has dubbed the Sea Ranch "One of America's Top 500 Restaurants" for five (5) consecutive years.

The New South Padre Island (SPI) sensor is located south of the Queen Isabella Causeway on the Sea Ranch Fishing Pier that is directly on the Laguna Madre. SPI runs south to north from the SPI jetties (south) to the Port Mansfield Jetties (North) so the location of the sensor provides a clean, true, on the water reading from all directions.

The Gulf of Mexico coast is on the eastside of the island and the Laguna Madre is on the Westside (bayside) of the island. The best direction for winds are south to north, or any combination of west winds, south and north (SE, SW, NE, NW). Summer winds are very steady, from the South and Southeast. The average daily wind speed is 18 mph.

Spring, fall and winter winds vary with frontal activity. Frontal winds are predominantly from the South and North and can be very strong (35mph plus) before and after a front.