Conditions at Les Cavaliers in May
May: Summer's Breath, Onshore Drift
By May the North Atlantic storm track is fading fast. Average swell height drops to 1.0m (3ft) with a period of 10.1s, and the swell is increasingly NW-dominated (50.1%) with a strong WNW component (40.8%). Most of that is short-period, single-foot swell in the 0.5-1m (2-3ft) range, so don't expect much power. The wind story is worse: ideal offshore flow shrinks to 23%, and combined W/WNW/NW/NNW winds blow 56% of the time. Sea breezes kick in earlier and earlier as ground temperatures warm, often leaving the surface lumpy within hours of sunrise. Water temp climbs to 16.2°C and air temps average 15.3°C, but boots and gloves are still useful on bigger days. For the dedicated surfer, May is an early-morning longboard month, waiting for those rare mornings when a lingering high pressure parks over the Bay of Biscay and sets up an offshore flow.
Average Spot conditions at Les Cavaliers in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Les Cavaliers 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 Les Cavaliers for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Les Cavaliers 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 Les Cavaliers.