Conditions at Bico in May
May: Small Windows, Clean Mornings
May is when Bico's surf starts to feel the squeeze of summer. Average swell height slips to 1.2m (around 4ft) and period drops to 10.0s - less powerful, but still capable of fun, punchy waves on the better sandbars. The dominant direction shifts further toward NW (40%), with WNW (33%) and W (14%) continuing to supply most of the swell energy.
The offshore wind window narrows to 15%, and the infamous Portuguese 'nortada' takes hold: NNW wind registers 35% of the time, creating frequent afternoon surface chop. Air temperature climbs to a pleasant 16.8°C, water temps reach 16.2°C, and precipitation dries up to 1.33 mm/day. This is a dawn-patrol month for dedicated surfers - get out early before the seabreeze ruins the surface.
Average Spot conditions at Bico in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Bico 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 Bico for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Bico 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 Bico.