Conditions at Crab Island in May
May: Summer's Preview
May brings the first real taste of summer to Crab Island. Average swell height settles to 3-4ft (0.9-1.2m) and the average period drops to 9.8 seconds, so the character of the surf becomes punchy and fun rather than heavy and powerful. The swell direction is still very favorable, with W at 31.2%, WSW at 19.2%, WNW at 20.7%, and NW at 7.4%, but the energy is concentrated in the 0.5-1.5m (2-5ft) classes. There are still some overhead waves, but they are the exception rather than the rule.
Wind quality remains decent: ideal conditions run at 19%, with a combined 21.7% of offshore ENE-to-SE flow, though the prevailing west-northwest winds are never far away. The milder weather makes it a joy to be out: air temperatures average 11.3°C, water warms to 11.8°C, and precipitation is at its lowest of the year at 2.66mm/day. If you are happy to ride a groveler or a longboard, May offers some lovely clean waves with far fewer of winter's demons.
Average Spot conditions at Crab Island in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Crab Island 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 Crab Island for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Crab Island 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 Crab Island.