Conditions at Sri Lanka in May
May: Monsoon Madness - Onshore Blowout
May marks the onset of the southwest monsoon and a dramatic shift towards unfavourable winds. Ideal wind conditions collapse to a mere 4% as the ESE trades dominate a stunning 57.3% of the time (with 31.2% at 10-20kph and 21.1% at 20-30kph), and SE winds add another 18.7%. That puts this ENE-facing break in the crosshairs of a strong onshore flow. The swell, meanwhile, pumps up to an average 6.2ft (1.9m) with a long 14.1s period, but the wave faces are chopped up by the persistent easterly wind. The direction mix shows 44.8% heading toward SSW (from NE) and 31.0% toward S (from N), so there is no shortage of energy - just poor surface texture. Water temps ease to 28.8°C, air temps drop slightly to 27.5°C, and precipitation averages just 2.22 mm/day. This month is one of the most challenging for finding a clean wave at this spot.
Average Spot conditions at Sri Lanka in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka.