Conditions at El Barco in May
May: Trade-Wind Summer Takes Over
By May, El Barco has entered the low season. The average swell height drops to 1.3m (4.3ft), periods fade to 8.2s, and the optimal north swell sector shrinks to a meager 6% of the distribution. In its place, E and ENE swells dominate at 40.6% and 36.4%, producing trade windswell that is better suited to exposed cross-shore sandbars than a north-facing spot. Expect waist-to-chest-high waves, occasional shoulder-high pulses, and a lot of lumpy sections on the sets.
Wind is cleanest of the year so far at 52% ideal, but that statistic hides the fact that ESE and SE winds are still the main players at 31.8% and 19.5%. These are often cross-offshore enough to groom the surface, but not constant enough to give El Barco the crisp offshore texture it needs. Air temperatures rise to 26.6°C, water warms to 27.0°C, and showers increase to 2.09mm/day. Fun can still be had, but the magic levels are gone.
Average Spot conditions at El Barco in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at El Barco 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 El Barco for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at El Barco 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 El Barco.