- Home
- ...North America
Panama- Playa Raya
Conditions at Playa Raya in May
May: Peak Southern Hemi Swell Season Arrives
May delivers the first true peak of the southern-hemisphere swell season. SSW swells explode to 85.9% of the wave rose, SW adds 7.4%, and the average period tops out at 14.1s. The average height remains at 1.1m (3.5ft), but the distribution is very healthy: the majority of waves fall in the 1-1.5m (3-5ft) range, with just under 40% in the 0.5-1m (2-3ft) range and a solid share of 1.5-2m (5-7ft) sets. The wind regime breaks down a bit - N/NNE/NNW totals around 38%, with light SW/WSW/W winds taking up more of the rose - yet ideal conditions still register 55%. Rain increases sharply to 9.57mm/day, air temp holds at 27.4°C, and water temp rises to 28.4°C. Expect warm, humid days and consistent long-period waves whenever the wind plays along.
Average Spot conditions at Playa Raya in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Playa Raya 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 Playa Raya for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Playa Raya 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 Playa Raya.