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Conditions at Tolcarne in May
May: Shoulder Season Goldilocks Waves
May continues the transition toward summer. Average wave height eases to 4ft (1.2m) and the period drops to 9.3 seconds - the first full month in the average-to-punchy category. The swell distribution is still dominated by W and WNW, with W at 36%, WNW at 17% and WSW at 14%, but most waves now arrive in the 2-4ft (0.5-1.2m) range. These smaller, shorter-period swells are ideal for loggers, fish and high-performance shortboards, especially on the inside sandbars.
Wind conditions become trickier, ideal only 22% of the time. NNW winds are the most frequent single wind direction at 12.6%, often bringing onshore chop, while the offshore S/SSW/SW/WSW quadrant still delivers roughly a quarter of the time. Air temperatures climb to 12.0°C and water temps reach 12.0°C, making spring suits comfortable. Look for dawn or dusk sessions when sea breezes are weaker and an early offshore can hold the surface clean.
Average Spot conditions at Tolcarne in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Tolcarne 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 Tolcarne for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Tolcarne 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 Tolcarne.