Conditions at El Mongol in May
May: Small, Clean Mornings
May starts to feel like the low season. Average swell drops to 3ft (1.0m) and the period shortens to 9.8s. NW and NNW still dominate the wave rose, together accounting for 76% of the swell observations, but most of it sits in the 2-3ft (0.5-1m) category, with enough 3-5ft (1-1.5m) waves to keep a grovel board honest. The wind becomes less reliable, with ideal S/SSW/SW winds at 27% and ENE plus NE winds dominating the wind rose. The afternoons often pick up local thermal flow that can chop the surface. With water temperatures at 15.3°C and air around 14.6°C, a thinner wetsuit works. If a late spring low tracks across the Atlantic, a clean 4-5ft (1.2-1.5m) pulse can still show up, but the default is small and fun.
Average Spot conditions at El Mongol in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at El Mongol 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 El Mongol for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at El Mongol 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 El Mongol.