Conditions at Vila Praia de Ancora in May
May: Summertime Build-Up and Shorter Periods
May marks a clear transition away from winter. The average swell height drops to 5-6ft (1.7m) and the average period falls below 10s to 9.9s, so while the ocean is still producing waves, the power is no longer the same. Direction-wise, the swell rose is still promising: NW leads at 27%, NNW 22%, and WNW 21%, with W at 11%. Unfortunately, the 22% NNW component is a sign that a good chunk of the energy is now shorter-period North Atlantic windswell driven by the summer pressure gradient rather than pure groundswell.
Ideal wind drops to 31%, and the wind rose is unmistakably summer-like: NNW at 23% and NW at 10% dominate, along with N and NNE. These directions tend to put a bump on the west-facing beach. Air temperatures average 15.1°C and water temperatures reach 15.5°C, with drier weather at 2.74 mm/day. The surf is rideable and often rippable in the 4-6ft (1.2-1.8m) range, but it requires choosing sheltered corners or hitting it early before the north wind becomes a problem.
Average Spot conditions at Vila Praia de Ancora in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Vila Praia de Ancora 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 Vila Praia de Ancora for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Vila Praia de Ancora 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 Vila Praia de Ancora.