Conditions at Costa Nova in May
May: Late Spring Lull
May signals a clear step down in size and power. Average swell falls to 1.7m (5-6ft) and period drops to 9.9s, meaning more summery windswell mixes with whatever lingering NW groundswell slips through. Directionally, the swell is still favourable, with NW (31.7 per cent), NNW (22.6 per cent) and WNW (21.8 per cent) dominating, but a large portion is in the 1-1.5m (3-5ft) range, and the long-period consistency of winter is largely gone.
Wind quality becomes the limiting factor. Ideal offshore wind is down to 22 per cent of the time as the NNW (33.4 per cent) and NW (11.2 per cent) trade winds tighten their grip. The good news is the water is warming up to 16.3°C and air temps average 16.4°C, so booties and hoods can start to disappear. May is best for dawn patrols, when an early light E/SE breeze can occasionally iron out the bumps on a fun, rippable west swell.
Average Spot conditions at Costa Nova in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Costa Nova 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 Costa Nova for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Costa Nova 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 Costa Nova.