Gust
A short, sharp increase in wind speed lasting seconds, well above the average.
A gust is a brief peak in wind speed — typically lasting between a few seconds and 20 seconds — measurably stronger than the surrounding average wind. Forecasts usually report average wind plus gust separately because the gap matters: 15 knots gusting 25 feels nothing like steady 15.
For riders, gusty wind means harder kite control, sudden overpowering, and unpredictable lulls between peaks. Gusts are caused by turbulence, thermal cells, gradient compression, or obstacles upwind (cliffs, trees, buildings). Open-sea wind is smoother; nearshore wind is gustier.
Rule of thumb: if the gust factor (gust ÷ average) is above ~1.4, expect a rough session.
Related reading: Kite Size from Forecast, Types of Wind.
Related terms
- Lull A temporary drop in wind speed below the running average — the opposite of a gust.
- Beaufort scale A 0–12 wind-force scale based on observed sea or land effects, devised by Admiral Beaufort in 1805.
- Gust factor The ratio of peak gust to average wind — the single most useful number for telling smooth wind from a fight.