Conditions at Piha in May
May: First Taste of Winter Heaviness
May brings a clear step up in size and power. Average swell peaks at 6ft (1.9m), and periods remain long at 12.9s. SW still dominates at 43.3%, but WSW has a strong 22.9% and west-northwest energy adds more exposed westerly swell. The amount of 5-8ft (1.5-2.5m) surf grows noticeably, and waves over 8ft (2.5m) begin to appear more often. Ideal wind time drops to 24% as the westerly storm track strengthens, so wind direction becomes the main filter for quality. Water temp cools to 17.3°C and rainfall increases to 3.67 mm/day, signaling the transition toward winter.
Average Spot conditions at Piha in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Piha 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 Piha for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Piha 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 Piha.