Conditions at Avalon in May
May: The Sweet Spot - Cold-Front Swell Meets Western Flow
May is one of Avalon's most underrated months. Average period holds at 9.5s, the highest of the year alongside June and July, and ideal wind conditions reach 40%. The swell rose shows a clear southern shift: SSE leads at 24%, S at 13%, SE at 18%, and E/ESE combined around 25%. There are still plenty of E/ESE waves, but the increased SSE component gives the beach more power and push. The wind rose becomes much more balanced, with meaningful W, WNW, NW and NNW percentages, so the classic west wind plus SSE swell combination lines up more often. Average height sits at 1.4m (4.6ft), with 5-8ft (1.5-2.5m) waves appearing in the SE through SSE/S quadrants on active days. Air temp cools to 15.3°C, water temp drops to 20.8°C, and rainfall is low at 2.04 mm/day. A light wetsuit and full-day sessions are the norm.
Average Spot conditions at Avalon in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Avalon 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 Avalon for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Avalon 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 Avalon.