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Conditions at Playa Rio Mar in May
May: Southern Hemisphere Groundswell Takes Over
May is when the dominant swell signal fully locks in. The SSW quadrant now supplies an enormous 83 percent of all swell, and the combined S/SSW/SW/WSW directions account for over 90 percent. The average period stretches to 13.7 seconds, the highest of the year, meaning the small average height of 2 feet (0.6m) still has real push behind it. The wave-height distribution is almost entirely in the 0.5 to 1m (2 to 3ft) band, with a touch of 1 to 1.5m (3 to 5ft) energy. Wind becomes more variable -- NNW and NW flow is still present, but SW/WSW onshore winds also show up -- so conditions are ideal about 62 percent of the time. Early morning offshore windows are the key score. The wet season is kicking in with 8.04 mm/day of rain, air temperatures around 27°C, and water temperatures up to 28.8°C. The surf is still small, but it's far more rideable than the trade-wind slop of winter.
Average Spot conditions at Playa Rio Mar in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Playa Rio Mar 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 Rio Mar for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Playa Rio Mar 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 Rio Mar.