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Conditions at The Ranch in May
May: Southern Hemisphere Swells Arrive With the Trade Wind Grip
May is the real turning point on the swell calendar. The Ranch's average wave height climbs to 5ft (1.5m) with a 14.2-second average period, and SSW power becomes overwhelming - SSW delivers 75.6 percent of all wave energy, with 33 percent of the total swell in the 1.5-2m (5-6.5ft) range and a healthy 4.7 percent at 2-2.5m (6.5-8ft). The southern Pacific storm track is now fully active, sending consistent, long-period groundswell straight into the beach.
But the wind window narrows dramatically. Ideal surf conditions sit at only 27 percent, and the onshore SSW/SW flow rises to a season-high 61 percent. The favorable N/NE offshore flow drops to just 18 percent, so most days have a soft, bumpy surface. With the wet season beginning, precipitation rises to 0.70mm/day, air temperature reaches 27.6°C, and the water warms to 28.8°C. May is all about waiting for the light northerly morning or a post-frontal clearing - those brief windows can offer world-class speed, but they are now the exception rather than the rule.
Average Spot conditions at The Ranch in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at The Ranch 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 The Ranch for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at The Ranch 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 The Ranch.