Conditions at Raglan in May
May: Winter Swell, Winter Wind
May marks the real shift into winter mode. Average swell height jumps to 2.2m (7ft) and the period stays lofty at 12.5s, driven by a more active Southern Ocean storm track. WSW (28.8%) and SW (22.5%) still lead the way, but W (7.9%), WNW (4.0%) and NW (1.9%) all gain ground, reflecting more frequent Tasman low systems. That is both good and bad: bigger surf, but more wind. Ideal offshore wind frequency drops to 29%, and W-NNW onshore winds start to climb to over 20%. Water cools to 17.1°C, air to 13.0°C, and rain increases to 3.63mm/day. Expect solid, powerful waves when the wind plays nice - and some serious drift and current on the bigger days.
Average Spot conditions at Raglan in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Raglan 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 Raglan for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Raglan 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 Raglan.