Badoc Island Lefts • Statistics for May

May: Summer Monsoon Flip-Flop

May is a true crossover month. The northeast monsoon is retreating and the southwest monsoon is beginning to send pulses across the region, so the swell rose starts to split. NNE still contributes a healthy 27% and NE adds 16%, while N and NNW contribute another 13%, leaving around 57% of the swell from the favorable northern window. But the SW monsoon is arriving: SW, WSW and SSW combine for around 29%, with an additional 5% from W. Average swell height falls to 0.7m and the average period bottoms out at 6.5s, the lowest of the year. This is small, locally generated and slightly lumpy, though favorable-direction pulses can still be grovelly at 2-4ft (0.5-1.2m).

Wind quality improves dramatically. The S sector makes up around 29% of the wind rose, and ideal surfing wind is reported 36% of the time, the cleanest month so far. With ocean temperatures heating up to 30°C and air temps around 28.2°C, the tropical atmosphere is becoming more unstable and rainfall jumps to 6mm per day. If you are after clean, warm, small waves, May can deliver; if you are after size and power, start planning for late autumn.