Conditions at Amoreira in May
May: Smaller Swell and the Battle for Clean Conditions
Winter power is fading. Average surf drops to 5ft (1.6m) and the average period shortens to 10.0 seconds. NW is the overwhelming direction at 43.3 percent, with NNW at 19.1 percent and WNW at 18.9 percent. With periods around 10 seconds, the wave quality becomes more influenced by windswell and less organized than true winter groundswell, though it can still be punchy on the better sets. Wind quality is the daily struggle: only 16 percent of hours are classed as ideal and the northerly machine is in full effect, with NNW wind blowing 34.9 percent of the time and NW another 15.7 percent. Glassy dawns and light morning land breezes are often the only clean windows. Water temperature rises to 16.5°C, air averages 17.9°C, and rainfall decreases. This month is more about picking the right tide and wind than chasing size.
Average Spot conditions at Amoreira in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Amoreira 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 Amoreira for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Amoreira 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 Amoreira.