Conditions at St. Laurent du Var in May
May: The Summer Flat Begins
May is when the Mediterranean high-pressure ridge starts to kill the surf. Average swell height drops to just over 1ft (0.4m) and the period shrinks to 4.7s, placing the vast majority of waves in the weak, choppy category. Although SSW (22.8%) and SW (21.5%) still dominate the swell rose, most of that energy is confined to the 0-0.5m class; 45% of all swell is micro and only 14% reaches the 0.5-1m range.
The lack of surf is compounded by wind. Ideal offshore N through E winds nosedive to only 15%, while the afternoon S/SSW sea breeze becomes the dominant wind regime. Air temperatures rise to 17.3°C and water temperature warms to 17.2°C, but the ocean often looks like a lake. Unless a late-season Mediterranean low lines up, expect flat, glassy mornings and blown-out afternoons.
Average Spot conditions at St. Laurent du Var in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at St. Laurent du Var 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 St. Laurent du Var for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at St. Laurent du Var 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 St. Laurent du Var.