- Home
- ...Europe
United Kingdom- Portrush
Conditions at Portrush in May
May: Lighter Winds, Lighter Waves
May is the beginning of the summer lull, though Portrush still sees a surprising amount of WNW at 25.0% and W at 18.7% in the swell rose. The problem is size and period: average height drops to around 4ft (1.2m) and average period falls to 8.7s, so the waves become pickable but lose that heavy, long-period connection to distant North Atlantic storms. Ideal offshore wind stays at 18%, which means there are clean mornings, but they tend to deliver chest-high lumps rather than groundswell gems. NNW and NW winds remain common, and by afternoon the sea breeze often criss-crosses the lineup.
Air temps average 10.1°C, water is 10.7°C, and precipitation is at the yearly low of 2.54 mm/day. A great month for a longboard and cross-steps, less so for pulling into deep hollow pits.
Average Spot conditions at Portrush in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Portrush 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 Portrush for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Portrush 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 Portrush.