Conditions at Unstad in May
May: Small Waves and Spring Light
May is small-wave season at Unstad. The average swell height is only 0.9m (3ft) and the period is 7.8s, so most open faces are soft and grovelly rather than powerful. The good news is that the W through NNW sector still supplies a large share of waves, with NNW at 14.6% and NW at 8.2%. If a late-season low forms in the Norwegian Sea, the direction is fine - there just is not much size behind it.
Wind is the bigger issue: ideal offshore flow from E, ESE, SE and SSE occurs only 11% of the time, while NNE winds dominate the rose at 11.5%. Water temperature is 6.7°C and air temperatures average 5.9°C, making it a more pleasant time to wear spring rubber. Precipitation is the lowest of the year at 1.81 mm/day, so May offers calm, pretty, small conditions rather than pumping waves.
Average Spot conditions at Unstad in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Unstad 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 Unstad for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Unstad 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 Unstad.