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Conditions at Playa Negra in May
May: Southern Hemisphere Swell Peaks, Trades Soften
May marks the start of the rainy season and a clear shift in the swell regime. The SSW direction reaches 81.4%, with SW adding 13.8%, giving a near-perfect 96% of the wave energy from the optimal window. The average period hits 14.2s, the longest of the entire year, and average height is 4-5ft (1.4m). However, the trade winds weaken considerably: offshore wind directions total just 38.3% of observations, and the ideal surfing wind drops to 56%. Light onshore sea breezes become more common in the afternoons, so the best windows are early morning. Rain increases dramatically to 6.06mm/day, air temperature eases to 28.2°C, and water temp peaks at 29.5°C. The surf is still pumping, but surfers will need to chase the clean hours.
Average Spot conditions at Playa Negra in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Playa Negra 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 Playa Negra for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Playa Negra 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 Playa Negra.