Conditions at Xivares in May
May: The Summer Slop Begins
May is the gateway to the doldrums. Average swell height sinks to 3.3ft (1.0m) and the period drops to 9.8s - average, punchy but without the penetration of true groundswell. The swell direction remains surprisingly north-northwest: NW at 42.8% and NNW at 32.9%, but the heights are dominated by the 0.5-1m range (NW 19.2%, NNW 16.3%). That's groveling territory on a north-facing beach. The offshore wind regime fades to 26% as the Azores High starts to flex and pressure gradients weaken. ENE (15.6%) and NE (10.9%) winds become the most common direction, and with the water warming to 15.3°C and air hitting 14.6°C, it's tempting to paddle out - just keep expectations low. Occasional NW windswell can still produce fun, rippable waves, but you'll be working for them.
Average Spot conditions at Xivares in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Xivares 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 Xivares for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Xivares 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 Xivares.