Conditions at Essaouira in May
May: Trade Wind Windswell Takes Over
May marks the beginning of the low season. Swell height drops to 1.7m (5.5ft), wave period to 9.4s, and the directional spread narrows dramatically: an overwhelming 61.9% of the waves now come from the NNW. This is locally wind-generated sea and short-period swell, not the long Atlantic groundswell of winter. Favourable offshore wind days drop to 23 percent as the Azores High strengthens and the NNE trades dominate (34.8%). Water temp is a pleasant 18.4°C with air temps around 18.7°C, but quality surf is hard to find. Save your energy for the early morning and plan around NW pulses.
Average Spot conditions at Essaouira in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Essaouira 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 Essaouira for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Essaouira 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 Essaouira.