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Conditions at Nuevo Vallarta in May
May: Southern Hemisphere Swell in a Warming Ocean
May is a transition into the summer pattern. The average swell height remains 1.0m (3.3ft) and period reaches 14.0s, indicating distant Southern Hemisphere storms are now responsible for most of the energy. Swell direction is excellent: WSW leads with 48.5 percent, SW adds 27.3 percent, and W accounts for 22.1 percent, all squarely aimed at the beach. However, the 1-1.5m (3-5ft) fraction drops to 48 percent while 0.5-1m (2-3ft) wave heights become the majority, so the surf becomes more inconsistent and grovelly.
Wind quality deteriorates as the pattern warms: ideal offshore conditions are only 39 percent, one of the lowest of the first half of the year. WNW and NW winds dominate, pushing the ocean into choppy, cross-shore lines for much of the afternoon. Air temperatures average 25.2°C, rainfall is still low at 0.32mm/day, and water temperature climbs to 26.8°C. Catch the early ENE offshore window and you can still find fun waves, but expect softer, smaller summer energy.
Average Spot conditions at Nuevo Vallarta in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Nuevo Vallarta 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 Nuevo Vallarta for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Nuevo Vallarta 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 Nuevo Vallarta.