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Conditions at Salsa Brava in May
May: Rainy Season Onset and the Glassy Windows
May is where the surf year really turns. The average swell height falls to 3ft (0.9m), the average period sits at 7.6s, and the wet season arrives with 8.62 mm/day of rain. ENE swell still dominates at 84 percent, but the energy is soft: 41.3 percent is in the 1.5-3ft (0.5-1m) range, with another 30.1 percent at 3-5ft (1-1.5m). The heavier 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) and 6.5-8ft (2-2.5m) blocks drop to single digits. This is background Caribbean windswell, not the kind of swell that makes Salsa Brava feel dangerous.
The wind signal deteriorates as well. NNW and NW flow controls over 41 percent of the month, and the ideal-for-surfing wind frequency falls to 20 percent. May is warm and rainy, with air at 25.5°C and water at 29.0°C. Most days are soft, bumpy and underwhelming; you are hunting for the occasional morning glass-off before the trade wind spikes.
Average Spot conditions at Salsa Brava in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Salsa Brava 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 Salsa Brava for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Salsa Brava 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 Salsa Brava.