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Conditions at Shark Rock Pier in May
May: First Taste of Winter Size
May is a big step up in both size and period. Average swell height reaches 7.2ft (2.2m) and the average period jumps to 12.2s, firmly in the powerful long-period class. The SSW direction still tops the rose at 27.9%, but SW swell rises sharply to 21.3%, and S contributes another 12.0%. This is the point of the year where 6.5-8ft (2-2.5m) waves become common, with a growing share of oversized sets.
Ideal wind drops to 23%, a warning sign. WSW (17.9%), W (14.9%) and NW/NNW (5.3%/8.6%) flow dominate, while S/SSW/SW/WSW offshore totals a little under 30%. Rain becomes scarce at 0.79 mm/day and water temp cools to 18.4°C. The key in May is picking the tail of a low-pressure system: when the wind goes SSW/SW offshore, the long-period SSW and SW groundswell lines stand up with real authority.
Average Spot conditions at Shark Rock Pier in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Shark Rock Pier 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 Shark Rock Pier for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Shark Rock Pier 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 Shark Rock Pier.