Conditions at Madalena do Mar in May
May: The Calm Before the Summer
May is a transition month with an average swell of 5.6ft (1.7m) and a period of 10.0s. The North Atlantic is starting to doze off, but there is still enough energy from the northern quadrants to keep Madalena do Mar interesting. NNW swells make up 34.2%, NW 16.9%, NNE 15.9% and N 12.4%, with a prominent NNE component in the mix. The period is dropping below the 12s threshold, so the surf becomes punchier and more average rather than long and hollow. However, the trade wind machine is ramping up: ideal offshore winds are 42%, with NNE (27.6%), NE (17.2%) and NNW (14.3%) dominating. This is the first month where the sun feels properly warm, with air temps averaging 18.2°C, water 19.2°C and only 0.64mm/day of rain. Expect small, clean, fun-size waves with the occasional glassy dawn patrol offering more than the size forecasts suggest.
Average Spot conditions at Madalena do Mar in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Madalena do Mar 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 Madalena do Mar for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Madalena do Mar 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 Madalena do Mar.