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Conditions at Playa Santa Teresa in May
May: Southern Hemi Energy vs. Onshore Wind
May delivers the biggest average swell thus far at 1.4m (4-5ft) with 14.2s periods, as the South Pacific winter storm track ramps up. SSW swell dominates at 89.9%, and a solid 27.5% of waves reach 1.5-2.5m - solid, firing territory. But the trade-off is real: ideal wind percentages plummet to 38%, and southerly winds from S, SSW, and SW become the prevailing afternoon pattern. Rain jumps to 7.89mm/day with air temps around 28.1°C and water a warm 29.6°C. Chasing the clean early-morning tide, before the onshore sea breeze kicks in, is the key to unlocking May's powerful but unruly groundswell.
Average Spot conditions at Playa Santa Teresa in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Playa Santa Teresa 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 Santa Teresa for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Playa Santa Teresa 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 Santa Teresa.