Senoritas • Statistics for May

May: Southern Winter Swell Ramps Up

May marks the real shift toward southern winter groundswell. The average swell height climbs to 1.8m (6ft) and the average period remains an excellent 13.6 seconds. SSW is still the dominant swell direction at 84 percent, with a small but growing S component adding some variety. The bulk of the waves sit in the 1.5-2m (5-7ft) range - 47 percent - and 20 percent reach the 2-2.5m (7-8ft) class. There is no shortage of power. The problem is wind. The South Pacific high strengthens and the local pressure gradient funnels a persistent S/SSW flow down the Peruvian coast. Combined S and SSW winds account for 68 percent of the observations, while ideal E/NE offshore wind drops to just 5 percent. Expect plenty of raw, heavily textured surf at Senoritas; the days when the morning breeze swings offshore are the ones that deliver the true winter firing potential. Air temperatures cool to 18.6°C on average, and water drops to 17.0°C, so a good hood might be worth packing.