Conditions at Scripps in May
May: Fading Winter Swell and the Onset of Summer Bump
May still averages 1.1m (3.6ft) at an even longer 13.5s, but the quality curve starts to flatten. Swell direction shifts further south, with WSW at 39.5% and SW at 30.3%, while pure W drops to 22.1%. The southward shift means less direct west exposure and more shadowing and angling at Scripps. There are still excellent 0.5-1.5m waves, but ideal wind collapses to just 7%. The west-northwest sea breeze becomes almost daily, as W and WNW winds combine for nearly 48% of all observations. Air temperatures are pleasant at 16.5°C, rainfall is minimal at 0.26mm/day, and water temps warm to 16.2°C. Summer is knocking.
Average Spot conditions at Scripps in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Scripps 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 Scripps for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Scripps 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 Scripps.