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Conditions at South Point in May
May: Solid Autumn Groundswells and the First True Westerly Mix
May signals the full arrival of the Southern Ocean storm track. The average swell height climbs to 2.3m (7.5ft), the average period is 12.9s, and the directional spread takes on a distinctly westerly character. SW remains top at 33.0%, but now WSW is close behind at 16.5%, W adds 5.0%, WNW 2.6% and NW 1.4%. Combined, the ideal WSW-through-NW window accounts for over 25% of all swell - a far cry from the summer months. These are powerful, long-period groundswells, and South Point lights up when the period pushes past 13s and the direction comes in from the west-southwest.
The wind is the thing to manage in May. Onshore westerly to north-westerly winds make up 26.4% of the wind distribution, and ideal conditions sit at 25%. Offshore ENE-E-ESE-SE flow is present 26.6% of the time, but the stronger W/SW winds associated with passing fronts can easily spoil the surface. The cooler air (17.1°C), dropping water temperature (19.9°C) and wetter pattern (2.84 mm/day) all indicate the dynamic autumn weather machine is in full swing. If you can find a pocket of high pressure with light ESE winds, May will reward you with some of the best waves of the season.
Average Spot conditions at South Point in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at South Point 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 South Point for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at South Point 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 South Point.