Conditions at Shangri-la in May
May: The Monsoon Flip and Building Energy
May is the transition into the southwest monsoon. Average swell height jumps to 1.6m (5.2ft), period holds at a solid 11.4s, but ideal wind drops to 36%. The wind rose becomes WSW (20.7%) and SW (16.4%) dominated, with W at 14.9% - a cross/offshore mix that can get bumpy. Swell comes mainly from S (42.4%), SSE (20.7%) and SSW (20.6%), with a meaningful share of the wave distribution in the 1.5-2.5m (5-8ft) range. This is the beginning of bigger, more powerful surf, but quality depends heavily on lighter morning winds and the occasional westerly clean-up. Water temperature sits at 30.0°C, air at 28.4°C, and rainfall rises to 5.71mm/day.
Average Spot conditions at Shangri-la in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Shangri-la 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 Shangri-la for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Shangri-la 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 Shangri-la.