Conditions at Carrownisky in May
May: Spring Clean, Longboard Energy
May continues the spring trend of smaller, cleaner surf. The average swell height sits around 3-4ft (1.1m) and the average period shortens to 9.2s, right on the edge of the ordinary/punchy windswell band. Swell directions are spread more evenly across the western quadrant: W (18.8%), WNW (17.2%) and WSW (13.6%), with a notable NNW (13.5%) and NW (12.0%) influence. These are mostly local and mid-range Atlantic swells, with hardly any waves over 6ft (2m). Offshore wind odds stay high at 20%, making May one of the best months for clean, user-friendly beachbreak waves. The regular NNW winds are more cross-shore than offshore, but when high pressure builds to the east and NE/ENE/E breezes set in, Carrownisky offers clean waist-to-shoulder-high peaks - perfect for shortboards on a good day and longboards on the average. Air temperatures are pleasant at 11.0°C (range 4.1 to 22.8°C), rainfall is a manageable 2.77 mm/day, and water temperature warms to 12.0°C (54°F).
Average Spot conditions at Carrownisky in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Carrownisky 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 Carrownisky for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Carrownisky 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 Carrownisky.