Conditions at Rincao in May
May: Peak Season Kicks In with Long-Period Punch
May is the heart of the best surf season at Rincao. Average swell height reaches 5ft (1.6m), average period jumps to 10.0 seconds, and ideal offshore wind frequency hits its annual peak of 46 percent. Swell directions now become really mixed from E/ESE through SE/SSE and S, with S (20 percent) and SSE (19 percent) leading the charge. These are proper South Atlantic groundswells, carrying more energy and wrapping well into the bay.
The meteorological setup is classic autumn: cold fronts rolling up from the south-west deepen, and the South Atlantic High drifts east, allowing W/NW offshore flow to groom the swell. Water temperature cools to 20.5°C and air temps average 18.9°C, reducing sea-breeze thickness. With 3.65mm/day precipitation, May regularly serves up 5-8ft (1.5-2.4m) waves with clean, hollow sections - definitely a month to book around.
Average Spot conditions at Rincao in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Rincao 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 Rincao for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Rincao 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 Rincao.