Manzanillo • Statistics for May

May: The South Swell Engine Turns On

May is where Manzanillo starts firing on all cylinders. The Southern Hemisphere winter storm track kicks into gear, and SSW swell becomes the dominant direction at 43.7 percent, with SW adding 21.9 percent and WSW chipping in 0.9 percent. The average period reaches 13.7 seconds, one of the highest of the year, meaning powerful, long-period groundswell. Most of that energy sits in the highly rideable 1-1.5m (3-5ft) range, with 29.6 percent of SSW and 16.8 percent of SW in that category, plus respectable 1.5-2m (5-7ft) pulses from both directions. Wind is the big bonus: ideal offshore wind reaches 27 percent as the strong dry-season trades weaken and become more variable, although ENE still leads at 53.4 percent. Rain ramps up to 5.16 mm/day and water temperature is a warm 29.0°C. The result is more clean, tropical waves and far fewer blown-out days.