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Conditions at Still Bay in May
May: The Roaring Forties Fire Up
May is where the season really hits its stride. The South Atlantic storm track moves north, and cold fronts begin to parade across the Cape waters, sending increasingly powerful swell into Still Bay. The average height climbs to 2.1m (7ft) and the period reaches 12.1s - proper long-period groundswell. Directionally, SSW (29.7%) and SW (25.0%) dominate, while S (13.3%) and SSE (6.2%) round out a classic winter mix. The wind roses shift dramatically too: N/NNE and NW/NNW flows become much more common, pushing the ideal wind percentage up to 52%. This is the month when the combination of strong SW/SSW groundswell and offshore N-NNW wind becomes a regular occurrence. With water temp at 17.2°C, you will need a 3/2 wetsuit, but Still Bay will be rewarding commitment with some of the cleanest, most powerful surf of the year.
Average air temperature falls to 16.9°C, and precipitation remains moderate at 0.96mm/day.
Average Spot conditions at Still Bay in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Still 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 Still Bay for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Still 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 Still Bay.