Conditions at Cobden in May
May: Winter Swell Builds and the Offshore Flow Locks In
May sees the Tasman Sea storm track wake up for winter. Average swell height rises to 2.0m (6-7ft) with a meaty 12.1s period, and ideal offshore wind jumps to 59% of the time. The swell mix becomes beautifully varied: WSW contributes 43%, W 17.5%, and the W-WNW-NW-NNW window accounts for 33%. So nearly a third of the energy arrives from the most favorable NW quadrant. The E-ESE offshore flow is dominant, with ESE at 24.8% and E at 13.4%, while the onshore W-WNW-NW-NNW winds drop to only 19%. This combination creates excellent conditions: punchy, long-period swell hitting the beach with offshore flow grooming every face. Water temp cools to 14.3°C, air temp averages 10.0°C, and rainfall increases slightly to 5.62mm/day. Start waxing the bigger board and break out the hood.
Average Spot conditions at Cobden in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Cobden 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 Cobden for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Cobden 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 Cobden.