Conditions at Inch Reef in May
May: Fun-Sized Spring Conditions
May is smaller and friendlier. The average wave height drops to 3.3ft (1.0m), with periods at 9.9 seconds; the bulk of the energy falls in the 1.6-3.3ft (0.5-1m) and 3.3-4.9ft (1-1.5m) categories. WNW (25%), W (22%) and NW (18%) swells dominate, while NNW (10%) and WSW (13%) add a mix of directions. This is the classic small but fun-sized month: not the place for charging big winter sets, but perfectly workable for a high-performance shortboard on a mellow long-period pulse.
With ideal winds 33 percent of the time, May is actually one of the cleaner months. NNW winds lead the offshore pack at 13%, and the polar-front jet is still disorganised enough to produce light-morning windows between showers. Air temperatures climb to 11.2°C, water temperature reaches 12.9°C, and rainfall is at its seasonal low around 3.0mm per day.
Average Spot conditions at Inch Reef in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Inch Reef 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 Inch Reef for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Inch Reef 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 Inch Reef.