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Conditions at Cat Bay in May
May: Winter Winds Begin To Bite
May is a tale of two competing oceanographies. The average swell is still 1.5m (4.9ft) and the period stretches to 12.6s, one of the longer averages of the year. SW and WSW swells combine for 61.8% of the wave energy, with WSW producing a big 17.9%, the true signature of winter-time Southern Ocean lows. This creates bigger and more powerful surf, with more than a third of all swells exceeding 1.5m (5ft). But the wind reliability crumbles: ideal surfing time drops to just 28%. NNW wind is now the dominant regime at 19.3%, with NW at 8.2% and WNW at 8.1%. That means the same WSW groundswell is often onshore-blown, turning the bay into a lumpy, wind-affected mess. Patience and a sharp eye on S/SW wind swings are required.
Average Spot conditions at Cat Bay in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Cat Bay 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 Cat Bay for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Cat Bay 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 Cat Bay.