Conditions at Arica in May
May: Peak Season Power Arrives
May marks the heart of the best surf window for Arica. Average swell height holds at around 6ft (1.8m) with an average period of 13.7s-the strongest, longest-period combo on the calendar. The 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) class accounts for 46.5% of waves, and 19.0% runs 6.5-8ft (2-2.5m), with occasional overhead-plus sets. Swell direction remains SSW (35.9%) and SW (58.6%), so the dominant energy is from the southwest, but the extended period allows it to refract efficiently into Arica's west-northwest-facing shoreline. Winds are the eternal caveat: WSW 48.9% and W 42.1% keep the surface lumpy; offshore flow remains at 0%. The good news is the wind speed stays light to moderate-mostly under 20kph-so it's messy but rarely howling. Air temps cool to 19.5°C, water to 17.3°C. This is a month where size and power can overcome imperfect conditions.
Average Spot conditions at Arica in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Arica 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 Arica for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Arica 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 Arica.