Conditions at Guethary in May
May: Winnowing Down to the Grovel Boards
May is the last month of the fair season before summer slumps. Average wave height sits at 3ft (1.0m), with the period dropping to 10.1s. The wave direction is still excellent: NW leads with a massive 50.1%, WNW adds 40.8% and NNW 5.7%. But the height distribution tells the real story - the majority of waves are in the 2-3ft (0.5-1m) range, with only a secondary push around 3-5ft (1-1.5m). It is small but not totally flat, and the NW window that makes Guethary special still gets enough angled energy to form a few peaks.
Wind quality is the limiting factor at only 23%. The Azores High is establishing, and the gradient is dominated by NW, WNW and NNW flow - 16.0%, 13.5% and 12.9% respectively - much of it onshore and lumpy. Water temp reaches 16.6°C and air temp 15.1°C, so it is spring suit territory. Pick the morning windows with a SSW/WSW breeze and a midsize board; May is for cruising and staying loose.
Average Spot conditions at Guethary in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Guethary 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 Guethary for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Guethary 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 Guethary.