Conditions at Praia do CDS in May
May: Lighter Swell, Summer Signals
May settles into a warmer, smaller groove. Average swell falls to 4ft (1.2m) and the period drops to 10.0 seconds. The wave rose is still dominated by the favorable NW at 40 percent and WNW at 33 percent, with W at 14 percent, but most of the energy is now in the 1.5-5ft (0.5-1.5m) range. It's fun, rippable surf rather than heavy, powerful surf.
Wind is a mixed bag. The ideal-wind percentage stays at 33 percent, but NNW flow now accounts for 41 percent of observations, making the daily cross-shore breeze the norm. Early mornings and lighter wind days are key; when the wind does swing into the southwest, the small NW swell cleans up nicely. Air temp averages 16.8°C, water temp 16.4°C, and rainfall drops to 1.33mm/day. A high-performance shortboard or a longboard is the right call this month.
Average Spot conditions at Praia do CDS in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Praia do CDS 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 Praia do CDS for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Praia do CDS 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 Praia do CDS.