Conditions at Skeleton Bay / Donkey Bay in May
May: Long Periods and Clean Offshore Flow
May is the beginning of the true heavy-water season. The average swell height climbs to 1.4m (4.6ft), the period stretches to 12.6s, and the model shows a clear increase in the bigger swell bins. SSW swell contributes 23 percent and SW swell 73.9 percent, with 1.5-2m (5-6.5ft) waves accounting for 25.5 percent of the month and 2-2.5m (6.5-8ft) waves for 6.7 percent. The all-important N-NW swell window remains absent, but the long southwest fetch is more than enough to get the sandbar firing.
Wind conditions are excellent: ideal surf wind runs 55 percent of the time, the best of the year. S and SSW winds dominate at 24.1 and 21 percent respectively, while onshore N-NW flow is minimal at around 7 percent. The ocean begins to cool to 14.2°C and air temperatures drop to 18.1°C, but rainfall is almost non-existent. May consistently delivers the recipe that makes Skeleton Bay a world-class barrel: long-period southwest swell, light offshore winds, and a sandbar that finally has enough energy to do its thing.
Average Spot conditions at Skeleton Bay / Donkey Bay in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Skeleton Bay / Donkey Bay 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 Skeleton Bay / Donkey Bay for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Skeleton Bay / Donkey Bay 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 Skeleton Bay / Donkey Bay.