Conditions at Chickens in May
May: The Monsoon Flip
May is the meteorological flip-flop month. The ITCZ migrates north, the southwest monsoon sets in, and the swell train becomes larger but much messier. Average swell height rises to 3.6ft (1.1m), and the period is still rideable at 7.5s, but the direction mix turns strongly toward WSW and W, with those two sectors alone providing almost 39% of the energy. The ideal SE/SSE/S/SSW sector still delivers a decent 42%, which means there are south swells in the water - the problem is the wind.
Ideal wind crashes to just 28%. W and WSW winds dominate 68% of the time, blowing directly against or across the SSE-facing shores. The result is bumpy, lumpy, often storm-battered conditions. Air temps stay at 28.5°C, water is 29.9°C, but rain climbs to 6.42mm/day. Only the occasional early-morning land breeze or a temporary ridge can give you a clean, solid 3-5ft (0.9-1.5m) window.
Average Spot conditions at Chickens in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Chickens 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 Chickens for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Chickens 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 Chickens.