Conditions at Riptides in May
May: The Southwest Monsoon Builds
May marks the real beginning of the surf season as the Southwest Monsoon kicks in. Average wave heights jump back up to around 3-4ft (0.9-1.2m), and the period remains a solid 8.2s. The swell direction spreads across the entire southern quadrant: SSE at 20.5 percent, S at 16.7, SSW at 16.6, SW at 17.1, and WSW at 16.4. From Riptides' southeast-facing perspective, only the SSE component is truly direct, but the combination of southerly and southwesterly energy has enough west in it to push wrap around the reef. The wind story is much better, too: WSW and W together account for nearly 70 percent of observations, which is offshore flow for this spot. Ideal winds run 41 percent of the time, so plenty of mornings are clean. The trend toward 3-5ft (1-1.5m) waves is clear, and there are even a few 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) sets from WSW and W. Rainfall jumps to 6.46mm/day as the monsoon gets moist, with air temps around 28.5°C and water temperatures of 29.8°C. It is warmer, wetter and substantially more alive than December through March.
Average Spot conditions at Riptides in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Riptides 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 Riptides for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Riptides 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 Riptides.