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Conditions at Tallows in May
May: The Southern Ocean Starts to Roar
May is when the surf year at Tallows really begins to build. The average period jumps to 9.5s, ideal wind frequency climbs to 22%, and the primary swell directions shift to SSE (24.9%), SE (20.7%), ESE (18.6%) and E (14.0%). A solid S component (6.1%) also appears, reminding us that the Southern Ocean storm track is waking up. Average height remains 5-6ft (1.5-1.8m), but this is now fuller, more organized swell - with plenty of 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) and 6-8ft (2-2.5m) sets in the SSE/SE quadrant.
The wind pattern shifts in Tallows' favor: onshore E/ESE/SE/SSE flow drops to around 33%, while W/SW/NW offshore and cross-offshore winds increase. The result is cleaner, more rippable surf and less chop. Water temp eases to 23.1°C, air temp to 20.5°C, and rain is moderate at 3.41mm/day. By late May, the right combination of Tasman low and westerly change can produce genuinely memorable sessions.
Average Spot conditions at Tallows in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Tallows 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 Tallows for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Tallows 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 Tallows.