Conditions at Cova da Alfarroba in May
May: Smaller Swell, Stronger Northerly Winds
May sees Cova da Alfarroba moving into its late-spring pattern. Average swell height fades to 6ft (1.8m) and the period shortens to 9.9 seconds, meaning a mix of groundswell and swell energy with less consistency. The swell direction is still ideal: NNW (30%) and NW (28%) combine with WNW (17%) to provide plenty of northwest swell, but the heights are smaller and more inconsistent. Wind is the bigger limiting factor - NNW wind blows 38% of the time, and when combined with NW (10%) and N (9%), onshore conditions dominate. Ideal S/SSW/SW offshore flow occurs only 19% of the time. When you catch one of those southern wind days, though, the beach offers fun-sized, punchy peaks. Air temps average 16.3°C, water 16.3°C, and precipitation drops to 1.65mm/day - the start of the dry season.
Average Spot conditions at Cova da Alfarroba in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Cova da Alfarroba 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 Cova da Alfarroba for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Cova da Alfarroba 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 Cova da Alfarroba.