Conditions at Praia dos Ingleses in May
May: The Summer Pattern Arrives
May is the threshold of summer. Average swell drops to 3-4ft (1.1m), and average period falls to 9.9s, right on the edge of the short-to-average windswell range. Swell direction is split very evenly between WNW (38.5%) and NW (34.8%), with W still contributing about 19%. This is a smaller, more inconsistent month, but the beach can still produce clean peaks when WNW/NW swell is hit by morning E/NE winds.
Ideal winds drop to 34%. The persistent NNW wind (28.5%) and NW (11.8%) are increasingly the dominant players, signals of the Azores High strengthening. Sea breezes and thermal wind add complexity. Water temperature edges up to 15.7°C, air averages 15.9°C, and rainfall drops to 2.40mm/day. Long swell droughts become more common, so the best May surf is found during short windows around passing fronts.
Average Spot conditions at Praia dos Ingleses in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Praia dos Ingleses 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 dos Ingleses for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Praia dos Ingleses 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 dos Ingleses.