Conditions at Ouakam in May
May: Fading Winter Swell and Mixed Winds
May sees the average swell height down to 1.6m (5.2ft) and the period shortening further to 9.3s. There is still a solid core of NNW energy (85.0%), but it is now produced by weaker South Atlantic systems and mid-latitude storms further from the coast. The wind regime turns more unreliable: NNW winds dominate at 59.1%, while the ideal offshore northerly flow dwindles to just N (12.8%) and NNE (4.8%). That said, the percentage of ideal wind reaches 25% due to lighter overall wind speeds and occasional early-morning offshore spells. Wave quality is more of a gamble - punchy but not as powerful as mid-winter, with a higher chance of drifting north-west winds messing up the shape. Water temperature climbs to 22.4°C and rain is scarce, making it a pleasant month to be in the water even if the swell is less consistent.
Average Spot conditions at Ouakam in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Ouakam 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 Ouakam for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Ouakam 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 Ouakam.