Conditions at Carcavelos in May
May: Clean but Smaller
May signals the true transition to summer. Average swell height drops to 1.6m (5ft) and average period to 9.9 seconds - right on the border between average and punchy windswell. The Waverose shows a massive northwesterly bias: NW 35.6%, NNW 23.8% and WNW 20.1%, with W at 9.7%. The direct SSW/SW/WSW groundswell sector is still present but small, so Carcavelos has to rely on NW swell wrapping into the bay. More often than not, the waves are better described as fun-sized and cross-offshore rather than powerful and pumping.
Wind remains the limiting factor. NNW dominates at 40.5%, and NW adds another 12.3%, creating frequent cross-offshore winds. The ideal N/NE offshore flow appears less often, and the total favorable wind sits at just 40%. With water temperatures at 16.4°C and air at 16.8°C, spring wetsuits are finally workable. Look for the low-pressure trailing fronts that occasionally push a little more south in mid-swell; combined with a dawn offshore breeze, they can turn a mediocre May forecast into a proper all-day surf session.
Average Spot conditions at Carcavelos in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Carcavelos 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 Carcavelos for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Carcavelos 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 Carcavelos.