Conditions at Grindavik in May
May: Cleaner and Smaller
May marks the clear shift toward summer. Average swell height drops to 1.3m (4.3ft), and average period falls to 9.1s, bringing average, punchy, rideable waves. The dominant swell directions remain SSW/SW, with SW at 19.0%, SSW at 16.2%, S at 12.0% and WSW at 11.0%, but most observations sit in the 0.5-1.5m (1.6-5ft) range. The good news is that the offshore wind window improves dramatically, with ideal N/NNE/NW/NNW flow 22% of the time. NNW is the single most common wind direction at 11.1%, and when combined with lighter spring winds, Grindavik offers clean, fun-sized waves. Air temps average 6.1°C, water temps climb to 7.7°C, and precipitation drops to 2.81mm/day. This is an excellent month for longboarders, not for big-wave hunters.
Average Spot conditions at Grindavik in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Grindavik 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 Grindavik for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Grindavik 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 Grindavik.