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Conditions at Ciruelo in May
May: Long-Period SSW Swell and the Rise of the Sea Breeze
May marks the true onset of the Southern-Hemisphere groundswell season. The average period peaks at 14.1s - the highest of the year - while average height remains 1.1m (3.6ft). The direction chart is heavily loaded to the SSW: nearly 86% of all swell arrives from that single direction, and the overall SSW/SW/WSW window exceeds 95%. The wavelength and open-ocean speed are there, giving Ciruelo raw long-period potential.
The problem is the wind. Ideal surfing drops to 62%, and although NNW still supplies 15.8%, the onshore SW/WSW/W quadrant increases sharply. Those long SSW lines are often groomed in the early morning by a light offshore NNW breeze, then deteriorate as the day warms and westerly sea breezes kick in. With precipitation jumping to 9.57mm/day and water temperature already at 28.4°C, you will be surfing warm, humid, onshore-challenged conditions. Dawn patrol is the key to unlocking May.
Average Spot conditions at Ciruelo in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Ciruelo 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 Ciruelo for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Ciruelo 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 Ciruelo.