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Conditions at Manuel Antonio in May
May: Peak Period and Max Southern Swell
May marks the peak average period of the entire year, at 14.1s, alongside a hearty 4.3ft (1.3m) average height. The swell direction is overwhelmingly SSW (88.7%), with 64.1% of all waves in the 3-5ft (1-1.5m) range, 17.8% in the 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) range, and even a scattering of 6.5-8ft (2-2.5m) sets. For a spot exposed to the south-southwest, this is as good as the ocean gets in terms of raw energy. But the green season is now firmly in place: rainfall swamps the coast with 7.83mm/day, and ideal wind drops to 20%. If you can score an early morning window before the S/SW onshore flow builds, May serves up some of the most powerful, grinding waves of the year.
Average Spot conditions at Manuel Antonio in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Manuel Antonio 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 Manuel Antonio for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Manuel Antonio 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 Manuel Antonio.