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Conditions at Plettenberg Bay in May
May: Winter Fires Start To Build
May is where Plettenberg Bay turns the corner into full winter mode. Average swell height jumps to 2.3m (7.5ft), average period stretches to 12.2s, and the wind is ideal 50% of the time - the highest of the year. The onshore E/ESE/SE wind share collapses to around 11%, while W (15.8%), WSW (11.4%), WNW (10.3%) and NNW (11.2%) fill the dominant wind slots. Swell direction is led by SSW (27.0%) and SW (25.8%), with S (11.0%) adding support. Most waves arrive in the powerful 1.5-2.5m range and glide through the 10-14s period band. This is proper long-period groundswell; even though the direction is south-west, the energy wraps and refracts into the bay with real purpose. Water temps are still comfortable at 17.4°C and rainfall is the year's driest at 1.08 mm/day. May is a prime month for big, clean, offshore-groomed surf.
Average Spot conditions at Plettenberg Bay in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Plettenberg 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 Plettenberg Bay for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Plettenberg 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 Plettenberg Bay.