Conditions at Bondi in May
May: Southern Ocean Groundswell Returns
May is the season-changing month. The average period jumps to 9.7s - just shy of the powerful 10s long-period threshold - and SSE/S/SE swells now combine for roughly half of the total energy. The Southern Ocean storm track is active, and those mid-latitude lows are throwing fetch directly towards the NSW coast. Average heights stay at 5-6ft (1.7m), but the quality is dramatically better because the period and direction align with Bondi. Offshore N/NW quadrant winds climb to 26 percent, onshore S/SE winds fall to 24 percent, and the ideal-wind window reaches 37 percent. Water temps cool to 21.0°C and air temps average 17.1°C, so a spring suit becomes part of the routine. May is the first month where you can regularly score clean, lined-up Bondi without needing an early alarm to beat the seabreeze.
Average Spot conditions at Bondi in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Bondi during May. Based on historical data, there is a % probability of groundswell occurring this month. The chart below provides a detailed breakdown of the average wave height distribution, offering deep insights into the swell quality and surf potential you can expect at Bondi for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Bondi for May. Our analysis shows that favorable offshore or side-shore winds coincide with surfable swell approximately % of the time. The accompanying graph illustrates the average size distribution of waves during these optimal wind windows at Bondi.