How GoodDayTo judges kayaking
Kayaking is much more sensitive to wind than many land activities. GoodDayTo therefore penalises wind and gusts early and heavily. The result is only a weather screen: it cannot see water conditions, currents, tides, wave height, cold-water risk or whether a route is appropriate.
- Wind speed
- Wind gusts
- Rain probability
- Apparent temperature
- Daylight and visibility
🛶 Make the result practical
- A calm-looking launch does not tell you what conditions are like farther along the route.
- Always use dedicated local water, marine or river information where relevant.
- Your craft, clothing, flotation equipment, experience and rescue plan remain outside this score.
Why the kayaking model is deliberately conservative
Headwinds and crosswinds can make a return journey much harder than the outward leg, and gusts can change conditions quickly. The score therefore begins reducing earlier than it does for cycling or walking. Thunderstorms, fog and freezing precipitation are also treated as serious warning signals.
Weather is only one part of paddling conditions
The app can assess rain, air temperature, wind, gusts and daylight from the forecast. It cannot measure current speed, river level, tide state, wave height, water temperature, dam releases, shipping, surf or local closures. A positive weather score must never replace those checks.
What a GO result means for kayaking
GO means the weather inputs GoodDayTo measures look relatively favourable for paddling. It does not certify a waterway, launch, route or paddler as safe. Local warnings and dedicated water-condition sources always take priority.
What the score means
GO means the weather factors GoodDayTo measures look favourable for this activity. WAIT means conditions are mixed or another upcoming window looks better. NOT TODAY means the forecast currently contains enough unfavourable weather signals that this is a poor choice. These are planning recommendations, not guarantees or safety clearances.
Frequently asked questions
Why is wind penalised so heavily?
Wind can make steering, progress and the return journey much harder on exposed water, so the model is intentionally conservative.
Does the score include tides or currents?
No. Tides, currents, river flow, water level and wave conditions require dedicated local sources.
Does GO mean it is safe to kayak?
No. GO only describes the weather variables the app measures. Water conditions, cold-water exposure, equipment and skill remain separate.
Why does fog matter?
Fog can reduce visibility and orientation on the water, so a fog signal limits the recommendation.
Can I use this for sea kayaking?
Only as a very general weather screen. Marine forecasts, tides, swell, waves, wind direction and local navigation information are essential for sea kayaking.