Conditions at Alvor in May
May: Small, Fun, and Growing Summer Light
May sees the average swell height slip to 0.9m (3ft) with a period of 9.6s, marking the true arrival of the shoulder season. The swell direction is overwhelmingly NW: NW 34.6 percent, WNW 27.7 percent, and W 13.9 percent, while direct S/SSW/SW windows nearly shut down. Most energy sits in the 0.5-1.5m range, meaning plenty of small, fun-sized waves for grovelers and longboards. Ideal wind is 31 percent, with NNW 24.6 percent and NW 17.9 percent doing most of the grooming. Water temperature climbs to 17.1°C, air averages 17.6°C, and precipitation decreases to 1.20mm/day. A persistent northerly flow often keeps the surface clean early, but weak NW windswell lacks the punch for serious turns. Survive the flat spells and May can still deliver playful surf, especially on a south-swell pulse generated by a late-season cut-off low.
Average Spot conditions at Alvor in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Alvor 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 Alvor for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Alvor 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 Alvor.