Conditions at St. Peter-Ording in May
May: Warmth Arrives, Swell Fades
May is where the North Sea really starts to wind down. Average swell height stays at 0.7m (2.3ft) and the average wave period hits its annual low of 4.8s. The swell direction remains remarkably W/NW-dominated-NW at 20.6%, WNW at 13.8%, WSW at 12.5% and W at 11.1%-but it is mostly small, short-period windswell. The overwhelming majority of waves are now below 1m (3.3ft), with only 5% of observations reaching 1.5m (5ft) or bigger.
The wind, however, still offers a decent share of offshore hope. ENE, E, ESE and SE winds combine for about 26% of the time, and NNW/NW winds often create a cross-shore component rather than a full onshore blow. On a good day, a small NW windswell can be groomed into smooth, rippable waist- to chest-high lines, but the 4.8s period means the waves lack push and close out quickly over the sandbars.
Spring is in full swing by May. Air temperatures average 11.6°C, water temperatures rise to 11.3°C, and precipitation stays moderate at 1.79mm/day. It is still not a serious surf month, but with improving weather and slightly cleaner wind windows, it is a great time to chase groveling waves on a fish or a foamie.
Average Spot conditions at St. Peter-Ording in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at St. Peter-Ording 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 St. Peter-Ording for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at St. Peter-Ording 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 St. Peter-Ording.