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Conditions at Buffels Bay in May
May: The Southern Ocean Puts Its Foot Down
May marks the true arrival of winter surf. The average swell height climbs to 8-9ft (2.6m) and the period lengthens to 12.2s. The wind statistics tell a clear story: NNW becomes the dominant wind direction at 12.6%, with W at 12.4%, WNW at 9.2% and NW at 6.4%, meaning the offshore quadrant now fires regularly. Ideal wind frequency reaches 55%. Swell direction is heavily weighted toward SW (22.7%) and SSW (19.9%), with the directly favourable S/SSE/SE/ESE sector contributing a secondary but meaningful pulse. In practical terms, expect powerful, long-period groundswell wrapping into the SSE-facing bay, groomed by offshore NNW/NW winds in the wake of cold fronts. Water temperatures have dropped to 17.1°C, so a 4/3 wetsuit comes into play. Air temps average 15.9°C, crisp, clean and wintry.
Average Spot conditions at Buffels Bay in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Buffels Bay 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 Buffels Bay for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Buffels Bay 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 Buffels Bay.