Conditions at Hokkaido in May
May: Monsoon Lurks and Small South Swell
The summer monsoon is beginning to breathe on Hokkaido. May sees a staggering 53% of all swell arriving from the SSE, with SE adding another 17% and S another 16%. That is good direction, but almost all of it is short-fetch windswell: the average height is only 2-3ft (0.8m) and the average period is 8.0s. The wind story is ugly, with S (14.7%), SSE (12.6%) and SSW (12.7%) blowing directly onshore for large stretches. Ideal wind sits at 14%, and most of the SSE swell is lumpy and disorganised. There are occasional clean mornings after a N/NNW front, and water temp has crept up to 8.3°C, but this is still a low-quality month.
Average Spot conditions at Hokkaido in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Hokkaido 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 Hokkaido for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Hokkaido 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 Hokkaido.