Conditions at Lagoa de Albufeira in May
May: Small Summer Pulses and Stiff Northerlies
By May the North Atlantic storm track is retreating, and the numbers at Lagoa de Albufeira reflect it. Average swell height drops to 1.2m (3-4ft) with an average period of 10.0s, so while there is still plenty of northwest swell directionally - NW 40.2%, WNW 32.8% and W 13.6% - the energy is shorter-period and less powerful. Most of the surf falls into the 0.5-1.5m (2-5ft) range, ideal for a log or a summer grovel board but rarely enough to get the beach firing.
Wind becomes the bigger problem. NNW winds are dominant at 36.3%, and NW plus WNW add another 23%, creating persistent cross-shore and onshore conditions. True offshore E/SE flow is almost negligible, and ideal surfing wind falls to just 11%. With average air temperatures of 16.8°C (min 10.2°C, max 28.1°C), precipitation down to 1.33 mm/day and the water temperature at 16.5°C, the spring weather is pleasant - but the surf is increasingly small and wind-affected. May is best chased early in the morning, before the northerly fills in.
Average Spot conditions at Lagoa de Albufeira in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Lagoa de Albufeira 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 Lagoa de Albufeira for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Lagoa de Albufeira 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 Lagoa de Albufeira.