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Conditions at Bells Beach in May
May: Winter Groundswell Engages
May is the beginning of the real winter season at Bells. The average swell height is 1.3m (4ft), but the average period rises to 12.7 seconds, and the swell distribution is dominated by a powerful SW push at 47.8%, SSW at 28.0% and WSW at 8.2%. This is a much more serious groundswell spectrum, with notable percentages in the 1.5-2m range and even 2-2.5m waves arriving from the SW.
Wind consistency improves dramatically, with ideal offshore conditions at 52% of the time. NNW wind is the big winner at 14.9%, WNW follows with 13.8% and NW adds 12.0%, creating excellent groomed surface conditions for the long-period SW groundswell. Water temperature drops to 15.8°C, air temperatures average 13.8°C, and precipitation picks up to 2.10 mm/day. The Roaring Forties storm track is now in full swing, and Bells begins to see consistent, powerful, lined-up surf in the head-high to overhead range.
Average Spot conditions at Bells Beach in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Bells Beach 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 Bells Beach for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Bells Beach 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 Bells Beach.