Conditions at Cote des Basques in May
May: Small but Clean Windows
May is the gateway to the summer slowdown. The average swell drops to around 3ft (1.0m) and the period drops to 10.1 seconds, shifting Cote des Basques toward smaller, softer systems. The direction is not the problem: NW at 50 percent and WNW at 41 percent dominate the wave rose to an almost obsessive degree. The height distribution, however, is loaded in the 0.5-1m (2-3ft) range, with only a modest 1-1.5m (3-5ft) component and very few bigger waves.
Wind quality takes a big step back with only 23 percent ideal conditions. The wind rose shows a persistent NW, NNW and W flow, the classic onshore pattern of the late spring thermal trough. The result is that May is heavily dependent on morning or offshore wind windows. Water temperature climbs to 16.6°C and air averages 15.1°C, making it much more comfortable for longer sessions, even if the surf is smaller and less powerful.
Average Spot conditions at Cote des Basques in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Cote des Basques 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 Cote des Basques for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Cote des Basques 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 Cote des Basques.