Casino Pier • Statistics for May

May: Small and Fun, with Clean Windows

May sees the first real drop in average size to around 3ft (0.9m), with an average period of 7.2s. The swell rose is heavily southern: SSE 18.7%, S 18.3%, SE 15.9%, E 15.4% and ESE 14.0%. That's a lot of short-fetch, locally generated windswell, and at the pier the predominant wave size sits in the 2-3ft (0.5-1m) range. It's groveling season, but the east-facing orientation still catches plenty of E/SE pulses.

Ideal wind percentage rises to 35%, and the lighter winds of May mean the surface is often cleaner than April. SSW/SW winds are common, but they blow more alongshore than onshore for this beach. Water temperature jumps to 13.2°C and air temperatures average 15.5°C, so spring suits replace full rubber. It's not pumping, but May rewards the patient surfer with fun, small, clean peaks.