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Conditions at Ingonish Beach in May
May: Clean and Small, a Cruel Spring Beauty
May is a glorious-looking month that leaves wave-starved surfers smiling and frustrated in equal measure. The average swell drops to 3ft (0.9m) and period to 6.8s, meaning most days are a blend of low, crumbly windswell rather than organized groundswell. The direction mix is actually excellent for Ingonish: E (11.1%), ESE (11.4%), SSE (10.5%) and SE (7.7%) are all prominent, giving the east-facing beach plenty of waves wrapped in from the proper quadrant. The bigger news is wind. Ideal SW-to-NW offshore flow rises to 38%, with WNW and NNW each around 9.6%; most days feature lighter winds and warmer sun. That combination can turn the cove into clean, playful 2-3ft (0.6-0.9m) peelers, perfect for longboards and funboards, while the air warms to 6.5°C and water reaches 4.2°C. Ocean waters are still cold, but spring's lighter conditions make May one of the most user-friendly, if not biggest, months to actually log some quality waves at Ingonish.
Average Spot conditions at Ingonish Beach in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Ingonish Beach 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 Ingonish Beach for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Ingonish Beach 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 Ingonish Beach.