Conditions at Cova do Vapor in May
May: Fun-Sized and Fickle
May is a month of small, fun-sized surf at Cova do Vapor. The average swell height is down to 1.2m (4ft) and period has dropped to 10.0s, putting it in the average, punchy category. NW swell (40.2%) and WNW swell (32.8%) dominate; there is still some W (13.6%) and even WSW (5.0%) to produce occasional clean waves, but the energy is less organized. Ideal wind frequency falls to 33%. The wind rose is increasingly locked into NNW (40.5%) and NW (12.3%), with many 20-30kph days-so although the wind is offshore, it is often pumping and can make the small surf tricky. Air temps warm to 16.8°C, water to 16.4°C, and precipitation drops to 1.33mm/day. May requires low expectations, a log in the car, and a good eye for the standout W/SW swell pulse.
Average Spot conditions at Cova do Vapor in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Cova do Vapor 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 do Vapor for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Cova do Vapor 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 do Vapor.