Conditions at Costa da Caparica in May
May: Smaller Groundswell, Early Starts, and Clean Morning Corners
May sees the winter engine switching off. Average swell height drops to 1.2m (4ft) and periods shorten to 10 seconds, so the surf becomes less consistent and more dependent on NW groundswell. The swell rose is dominated by NW at 40% and WNW at 33%, with W still accounting for 14%. It is not flat, but it is a far cry from the overhead winter slabs. The biggest challenge is wind: ideal conditions fall to just 28%, while strong NNW blows 40% of the time, and NW/WNW winds add another 19%. The saving grace is that many of these north winds are light to moderate early in the day, and sunrise sessions can still produce fun, rippable 3-4ft peaks with clean faces. Air temperatures are pleasant at 16.8°C, water has warmed to 16.4°C, and rainfall drops to 1.33 mm/day. A springsuit is the standard call.
Average Spot conditions at Costa da Caparica in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Costa da Caparica 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 Costa da Caparica for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Costa da Caparica 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 Costa da Caparica.