Conditions at Baleal in May
May: Fading Power and the Rise of the North Wind
May is where the long-period winter swell begins to bow out. The average wave height drops to 1.8m (6ft), and the period falls to 9.9s - on the borderline between average and punchy. Swell direction is still almost pure northwest, with NNW at 29.9%, NW at 28.4% and WNW at 17.4%, but more of that energy now arrives in the 0.5-2m range. There are still plenty of playful, rippable waves, especially on the higher tide at the inner sandbars, but the heavy, firing days become less frequent.
Wind is the real story. The NNW wind direction blows 38.3% of the time, making onshore side-shore the dominant pattern. The good offshore quadrant still shows up occasionally, with ideal wind 20% of the time, but the overall trend is deteriorating. Water warms to 16.3°C, air averages 16.3°C, and rainfall drops to 1.65mm/day. May can provide fun, groveling sessions for a shortboard, but you often need to look for sheltered corners or go early before the sea breeze kicks in.
Average Spot conditions at Baleal in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Baleal 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 Baleal for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Baleal 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 Baleal.