Conditions at Preciosa in May
May: Trade-Swell Summer Arrives
May marks the beginning of the low season in earnest. Average swell height slips to 1.3m (4.3ft), and the average period drops to 8.2s - noticeably shorter, punchier and less organized. The wave rose shifts hard toward E, with 40.6 percent of all swell from due E and another 36.4 percent from ENE; NE only contributes 15.1 percent and NNE 4.6 percent. Preciosa now relies on windswell and small trade swell rolling in from the east. However, the ideal wind percentage improves to 38 percent, and lighter S/SSW/SW episodes are more common, meaning the smaller surf is often clean and playful. Air temperature climbs to 26.6°C (20.1-35.0°C), water temperature reaches 27.0°C, and rainfall increases to 2.09mm/day as the wet season begins. This is longboard season - small, rippable but not powerful.
Average Spot conditions at Preciosa in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Preciosa 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 Preciosa for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Preciosa 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 Preciosa.