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Conditions at Careneros in May
May: The Wet-Season Transition
May is where the surf brain needs a reality check. The average swell height falls to 0.9m (2-3ft), the period stays at 7.5s, and although NE swell still provides 85.0 percent of the energy, a large chunk sits in the 0.5-1m (2-3ft) range. More telling is the wind shift: ideal conditions crash to just 46 percent as the Intertropical Convergence Zone starts to creep north and the Caribbean trades lose their edge. The prevailing WNW/NW wind is still present, but it is lighter and less consistent, which means more surface texture and smaller, softer waves. With rain rising to 8.62mm/day and water temperature at 29.0°C, May is a month for the committed - the sandbars can still deliver, but you will be working for every wave.
Average Spot conditions at Careneros in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Careneros 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 Careneros for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Careneros 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 Careneros.