Conditions at Desert Point in May
May: Full Dry Season, Groundswell Building
May sees the dry season established and the groundswell starts to build. Average height increases to 5-6ft (1.7m), and the average period reaches 14.1s, putting it firmly in the powerful long-period category. Swell direction is dominated by SSW (56 percent) and S (29 percent), with a significant 18.8 percent of waves in the 6-8ft (2-2.5m) range - heavy, firing surf on the reef.
Winds are strongly offshore from ESE (37 percent) and SE (38 percent), with SSE adding another 11 percent. The ideal wind ratio is 66 percent; that said, the trades can blow hard at times, especially in the 20-30kph range, so the surface can become bumpy during the afternoon. Rain is scarce at 2.4 mm/day, air temps average 26.6°C, water temperature is 29.4°C. Mornings offer the best chance of smooth, glassy conditions.
Average Spot conditions at Desert Point in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Desert Point 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 Desert Point for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Desert Point 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 Desert Point.