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Conditions at Playa Malibu in May
May: Peak Southern Hemisphere Swell
May is the heart of the south swell season for Playa Malibu. The Southern Hemisphere storm track is fully active, sending consistent SSW energy into the Pacific coast of Panama. The swell rose shows SSW at an impressive 80.3% and SW at 11.4%, meaning the spot is almost constantly seeing favorable direction. Average height remains modest at 0.7m (2.3ft), but the average period is a healthy 12.6s, so the waves that do arrive have genuine push.
Wind-wise, the picture is a little softer than the dry season. NNW flow still leads at 37.4% and NW adds 11.6%, but there are also more SW/SSW winds (about 15% combined) as the ITCZ begins to influence the region. Ideal wind sits at 62%. Rain becomes more frequent (8.04 mm/day) and water temperature reaches 29.0°C. Expect fun-sized, clean-lined 2-3ft (0.6-0.9m) waves, biggest on days when the stronger SSW pulses overlap with early-morning offshore wind.
Average Spot conditions at Playa Malibu in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Playa Malibu 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 Playa Malibu for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Playa Malibu 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 Playa Malibu.