Conditions at Ponta do Pargo in May
May: Fun-Sized Clean Summer Lines
May marks the true transition to summer. Average swell drops to around 5-6ft (1.5-1.7m) and the average period falls to 10.0s, right at the boundary between average and powerful. The swell direction distribution is still dominated by NNW (34.2%) and NW (16.9%), but with more N and NNE energy (12.4% and 15.9% respectively) than the winter months. This is windswell-influenced groundswell rather than pure mid-Atlantic storm swell, so Ponta do Pargo becomes more of a fun wave than a heavy wave. The Azores High pushes north, bringing mostly NNE (27.6%) and NE (17.2%) winds. Ideal offshore/easterly flow is only present 29% of the time, but the strong NNE/NE flow is often cross-offshore and keeps the surface groomed.
Air temps are lovely at 18.3°C (min 14.6°C, max 21.7°C), precipitation is minimal at 0.54 mm/day, and water temps rise to 19.2°C. May is a great month for loggers and mid-lengths, with clean, rippable waves in the 3-5ft (1-1.5m) range on the better days.
Average Spot conditions at Ponta do Pargo in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Ponta do Pargo 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 Ponta do Pargo for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Ponta do Pargo 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 Ponta do Pargo.