Conditions at Il Porto in May
May: Small, Groveling Fun When the Wind Plays Nice
May is where the summer lull begins. Average swell height drops to 0.6m (2ft), and average period falls to 4.5s, a classic sign of short-period, locally generated windswell. The direction distribution still favors the beach: S (16.9%), WSW (15.4%), SW (14.1%), SSE (11.5%) and SSW (10.0%) make up a huge share of the total swell. But the wave-height tables are brutally honest. Most of that energy sits in the 0-0.5m (0-1.5ft) and 0.5-1m (1.5-3ft) categories, with only tiny fractions reaching 1-1.5m (3-5ft).
Wind quality deteriorates as the Azores High builds. The offshore quadrant is down to about 17%, SE/SSE winds become prominent, and the afternoon seabreeze from S/SW adds chop to the small residual swell. Ideal surf wind falls to just 9%. Water temperature is pleasant at 18.5°C, air temperature averages 17.8°C, and precipitation is lower at 1.67 mm/day. May is for cross-stepping on a longboard and enjoying the beach, not for chasing barrels. Early-morning glass-offs can still turn the occasional 0.5-1m (1.5-3ft) southerly pulse into playful, uncrowded surf.
Average Spot conditions at Il Porto in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Il Porto 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 Il Porto for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Il Porto 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 Il Porto.