Conditions at Backdoor in May
May: The Summer Windswell Pattern Sets In
May brings a definitive shift toward summer. Average swell height falls to 1.8m (5.9ft) and period to 9.2s, much of it shorter-period energy generated by the trade winds themselves. ENE dominates the swell rose at 32.9%, E adds 20.3%, NE 17.9%, and NNE 11.2%. NNW still contributes 6.1%, but it is an increasingly rare treat. With ENE (34.9%) and E (39.0%) winds blowing nearly 74% of the time, the surface is commonly chopped up and cross-onshore at Backdoor. Ideal wind windows improve slightly to 21%, which can make for semi-clean if small conditions, especially when ENE swell wraps a little. But this is not the Backdoor of winter. Air temperatures are warm at 24.3°C (min 20.1°C, max 28.9°C), rainfall is low at 1.23 mm/day, and water temperature rises to 24.9°C.
Average Spot conditions at Backdoor in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Backdoor 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 Backdoor for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Backdoor 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 Backdoor.