Conditions at Prainha in May
May: Swells Lose Their Punch
May marks the end of consistent groundswell. Average heights ease to 6ft (1.8m), the period drops to 9.9s, and ideal wind time falls to 18 percent. The swell rose is dominated by NNW (29.9 percent) and NW (28.4 percent), with WNW (17.4 percent) still present. Most energy is in the 3-5ft (1-1.5m) and 5-6ft (1.5-2m) classes, so Prainha becomes a fun but less demanding wave. Longboarders start to rule the lineup, and the punchy winter walls become softer and more sectiony.
The summer Azores High strengthens, NNW trade winds build to 38.3 percent, and rainfall drops to 1.65mm/day. Air and water both sit at 16.3°C, making spring suits or the first no-wetsuit sessions of the year part of the equation.
Average Spot conditions at Prainha in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Prainha 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 Prainha for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Prainha 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 Prainha.