Conditions at Guincho in May
May: Late-Spring Windswell Lottery
By May, the North Atlantic storm machine powers down a notch. Average swells fall to 5-6ft (1.5-1.8m) and the period shortens to 9.9s - a mix of leftover groundswell and fresh, locally generated NW/NNW windswell. The swell distribution shifts noticeably toward NNW: almost a third of all wave energy comes from that direction, backed by NW and WNW. These are rideable but less organized, with plenty of chest-to-head-high peaks and occasional bigger lumps. The wind data reveals the problem: NNW blows over 40% of the time, and true offshore windows drop to 9%. Expect choppy, bumpy conditions for much of the day, with dawn patrol offering the only real shot at clean walls. Water temperature rises to 16.4°C, precipitation is lower, and the beach starts to fill with summer energy. If you can find a weak high-pressure ridge and an easterly land breeze, May can still deliver some silky, fun-sized waves at Guincho.
Average Spot conditions at Guincho in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Guincho 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 Guincho for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Guincho 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 Guincho.