Conditions at Las Salinas in May
May: The Spring Windswell Slump
May is when Las Salinas begins to lose its winter muscle. Average wave height drops to 1.4m (4.5ft) and the average period falls to 9.6s, right in the average/punchy range - rideable, but a long way from the long-period grind of January. The directions are still overwhelmingly NNW and N, with NNW at 56.8%, N at 25.4% and NW at 8.7%. The wind remains offshore: NNW 34.0%, NNE 31.1%, N 21.3% combine for the dominant signal. However, with the Azores High rebuilding, a lot of that is breeze-generated windswell rather than true groundswell, so wave quality is less consistent. Ideal wind windows sit at 20%, and early sessions are again your best chance for smooth faces. Water temperature climbs to 19.7°C and air reaches 19.8°C, with almost no rain at 0.10mm/day. A 3/2 wetsuit is enough, and a groveller or funboard will be your best friend.
Average Spot conditions at Las Salinas in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Las Salinas 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 Las Salinas for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Las Salinas 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 Las Salinas.