Conditions at Cortegaoa in May
May: Fun-Sized but on the Mend
May sees the swell drop further to an average of 3-4ft (1.1m) with a 9.9s period. The percentage of ideal offshore wind drops to 22%, as the Azores High starts to tighten its grip. Swell directions are still from the W/WNW/NW sector - WNW (38.5%), NW (34.8%), W (18.6%) - but wave heights are mostly in the 0.5-1.5m range, offering groveling and fun waves rather than powerful grinders. The wind regime is now strongly northerly: NNW (30.5%) and NW (10.9%) are the most common directions, creating cross-onshore conditions at Cortegaoa. Still, a rogue late-season swell or a morning eastern breeze can deliver peaky, clean waves. Air temps are springlike at 15.9°C (61°F), water at 15.8°C (60°F), and precipitation drops to 2.40 mm/day.
Average Spot conditions at Cortegaoa in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Cortegaoa 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 Cortegaoa for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Cortegaoa 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 Cortegaoa.