Conditions at Santa Catarina in May
May: Summery Boundaries, Clean Rippable Surf
May represents the real shift toward smaller surf. Average height drops to 6ft (1.9m) and average period to 10.1s, so much of the North Atlantic action is of the mid-period, windswell-influenced variety. The wave rose is still NW-dominated, with NNW at 18.8%, NW at 13.1% and WNW at 9.0%, but the N/NNE/NE window is stronger now: N at 6.0%, NNE at 8.0% and NE at 6.3%. The beach sees more waves from the optimal swell directions. Ideal offshore wind days improve to 18%, with SW at 8.8%, WSW at 8.3%, W at 7.7% and SSW at 6.9% all offering clean lanes. The water warms to 17.3°C (63°F), air temps reach 20.3°C (68°F) highs, and rainfall fades to 1.53mm/day. This is the month to enjoy long, rideable walls without the commitment of winter charging.
Average Spot conditions at Santa Catarina in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Santa Catarina 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 Santa Catarina for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Santa Catarina 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 Santa Catarina.