Conditions at Varkala in May
May: More Size, More Wind
May is where the swell machine switches on. Average wave height climbs to 3.3ft (1.0m) and the direction is prime: SSW 31.2%, SW 27.0%, WSW 20.7% and W 6.1%-over 85% of the swell is from the optimal window. Periods sit at a solid 11.1 seconds. But the wind is increasingly a problem. Ideal wind drops to 33%, and the dominant flows are NW (24.6%), WNW (22.9%) and NNW (22.5%)-all cross/onshore for Varkala's SW beach. These directions create bumpy, side-shore conditions that can close out the lineup. When the early-morning land breeze from NE wins, the 3-4ft (1m) waves can be extremely fun, rippable storm-swell. As the monsoon approaches, humidity and precipitation rise sharply (6.15 mm/day), while water temp holds at 30.0°C. This is a month to hunt the wind shadows and score the odd gem.
Average Spot conditions at Varkala in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Varkala 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 Varkala for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Varkala 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 Varkala.