Conditions at Mada's in May
May: Size Builds But the Angle Wobbles
May is the true onset of the southwest monsoon, and the energy level ticks up. Average swell height rises to 3.9ft (1.2m) and the swell rose fans out into the south/southwest quadrant: S 21.3%, SSW 20.7%, SSE 20.6%, SW 20.0%, with WSW 12.9%. The favored SSE/S window still supplies 41.9% of the energy, but a large chunk now comes from SSW/SW, which is less direct for the SE-facing reef and may wrap inconsistently into Mada's. Periods slip to 6.6s, so the new size still arrives in average/punchy pulses rather than long-period groundswell.
Wind quality takes a noticeable hit. The trades are gone; west/southwest wind dominates with WSW at 31.8%, W 26.6%, and SW 17.0%. Offshore N/NNW/NW/WNW flow drops to only 11.4%, and ideal wind falls to 34%, the lowest of the year. Onshore ESE/SE/SSE/S flow sits at only about 6%, meaning it is more cross/onshore west flow than pure onshore, but the surface will be lumpier than in March/April. Rain climbs to 6.63mm/day, air sits at 28.4°C, and water temp is still warm at 29.8°C. May is a month for chasing the early WNW windows when pulses of S/SSW swell deliver size; otherwise expect bumpy, drifty conditions.
Average Spot conditions at Mada's in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Mada's 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 Mada's for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Mada's 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 Mada's.