Conditions at Moledo do Minho in May
May: Windswell Season and Early Mornings
By May, the North Atlantic storm engine is sputtering. Average wave height falls to 5-6ft (1.6-1.8m), period to 9.9s, just below the long-period threshold, so surf tends to be punchy and wind-driven rather than heavy and lined. The swell is extremely NW-heavy: NW at 26.9%, NNW at 22.4% and WNW at 21.3%, with W adding 10.8%. Good directions are still present, but much of this is north windswell produced by lows sitting far to the north or by the strengthening Iberian thermal low.
Wind quality slips to 32% ideal, with the north wind machine now in full swing. NNW winds blow 23.4% of the time, NW another 10.2%, and N 7.3%, creating consistent sideshore and onshore texture. The saving grace is the offshore E/ESE/SE window that appears in the early hours before the thermal sea breeze kicks in. Air temperature averages 15.1C, water is 15.5C and rain drops to 2.7mm/day: surf in a 3/2mm wetsuit and grab the dawn patrol slots.
Average Spot conditions at Moledo do Minho in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Moledo do Minho 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 Moledo do Minho for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Moledo do Minho 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 Moledo do Minho.