Conditions at Ericeira in May
May: Summer Creeps In
May is the beginning of the low season grind. Average swell height drops to 1.7m (5.5ft), and the average period slips to 9.9s - the transition from powerful groundswell to punchy windswell. The dominant swell directions are now firmly NNW (31.5%) and NW (30.5%), with WNW also contributing. This is swell generated mostly by the strong NNW trade winds, not distant storms, so the energy is shorter period and less organized. To make matters worse, ideal offshore wind drops to just 11% of the time; the same NNW wind that generates the waves also blows across the coast, creating lumpy, sectiony conditions. On the bright side, air temperatures warm to 16.7°C and water reaches 16.5°C, making spring suits comfortable. Dawn patrol is your best bet before the prevailing wind gets a handle on the lineup.
Average Spot conditions at Ericeira in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Ericeira 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 Ericeira for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Ericeira 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 Ericeira.