Conditions at Leja da Palmeira in May
May: The Low Season Creeps In
By May, the North Atlantic high-pressure regime is taking hold. The average swell height falls to 5ft (1.6m), and the average period drops to 9.8s - waves become shorter-period, lower-energy and more wind-driven. NW remains the dominant swell direction at 30.6 percent, with WNW at 22.8 and NNW at 20.9 percent, so the wave direction is still good; it is the size and period that are lacking. The wind now becomes the main character: NNW wind hits 28.5 percent, ideal offshore flow drops to 24 percent, and most days develop a lumpy cross-shore texture. When a rogue front sends a 10-12s NW swell, the beach can still offer fun, rippable peaks, but expecting pumping winter conditions is a mistake. Air temperatures warm to 15.9°C, rainfall drops to 2.40 mm/day, and water temperature reaches 15.7°C - a good time to start thinking about a smaller board and a lighter wetsuit.
Average Spot conditions at Leja da Palmeira in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Leja da Palmeira 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 Leja da Palmeira for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Leja da Palmeira 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 Leja da Palmeira.