Conditions at Thunders in May
May: The Dry Season Switch Flicks On and the Waves Turn On
May is the first true destination month for Thunders. Average swell height climbs to 1.5m (4.9ft) and the average period reaches 13.9s - proper long-period pulse. The direction is beautifully consistent: 65% SSW, 19.6% S, and 12% SW. Better yet, size distribution shifts upward. While 54.8% of waves are in the fun 3-5ft (1-1.5m) range, a substantial 38.3% push into the 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) range and 5.2% reach 6.5-8ft (2-2.5m). Thunders gets some serious push.
The wind picture is transformed. Ideal surfing wind jumps to 54%, the highest of the year to date. The NW monsoon has retreated, and the SE trades dominate the wind rose at 17.8% SE, 11.5% ESE, and 10.3% SSE. Although these are not the pure offshore directions for the spot, they bring dry, stable air and a much lower incidence of stormy onshore flow. Rainfall drops to 5.67mm/day and water temperature peaks at 30.0°C. This is a month where the forecasts get circled well in advance - the SSW groundswell lines up and the wind lets them hold their shape.
Average Spot conditions at Thunders in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Thunders 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 Thunders for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Thunders 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 Thunders.