Conditions at Fonte da Telha in May
May: Small Waves, Spring Sunshine
May is a month of smaller, more summer-like surf. The average swell height is 1.2m (4ft) and the period is 10.0s, so the ocean is producing shorter, less powerful waves. Swell direction is dominated by NW (40.2%) and WNW (32.8%), with pure W at 13.6%, but much of this energy is moderate, short-to-medium period windswell rather than true groundswell. The wind becomes less reliable: ideal offshore conditions drop to 16% of the time, while NNW flow howls in 36.3% of the time and NW adds another 15.2%. That usually means bumpy, textured conditions by late morning. The plus side is a pleasant water temperature of 16.5°C, less rain at 1.33 mm/day, and average air temperatures of 16.8°C. A stray southwesterly front can still inject a few extra feet of fun-sized swell, but May is primarily groveler territory.
Average Spot conditions at Fonte da Telha in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Fonte da Telha 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 Fonte da Telha for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Fonte da Telha 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 Fonte da Telha.