Conditions at Zonte in May
May: Peak Season Ignites
May is the turning point. Average swell height climbs to 4.5ft (1.4m) and period peaks at 14.2 seconds, the highest average of the year. The swell direction distribution becomes a love letter to Zonte's south exposure: SSW 87.5%, S 7.9%, SW 4.1%. The 3-5ft (1-1.5m) range still dominates, but the 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) bracket jumps to around 23%, and there's even a small percentage of 6.5-8ft (2-2.5m) waves. The south-facing banks start firing with legitimate wave height and long-period punch.
The catch is wind. Ideal offshore flow drops to 52%, one of the year's lowest, as the ITCZ moves north. Winds become lighter and more variable, with NW at 9.7%, NNW at 8.7%, and W at 8.9%; the E/SE quadrant also takes a share. Expect morning glass, afternoon tropical showers, and an average precipitation of 5.26 mm/day. Air temp is 27.7°C and water temp 30.2°C. Pick your windows right and you'll find powerful, hollow Zonte at its best.
Average Spot conditions at Zonte in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Zonte 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 Zonte for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Zonte 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 Zonte.