Conditions at Matosinhos in May
May: The Nortada Takes Over
May sees the first real taste of summer. Average swell height falls to 3-4ft (1.1m) and the period drops to 9.9s, so the transition from groundswell to windswell has begun. WNW and NW dominate once again, combining for about 73% of the directional spectrum, but the heights are mostly in the small/fun 2-5ft (0.5-1.5m) range; waves over 5ft become rare. The wind is ideal only 38% of the time, and the nortada (NNW/NW) becomes the dominant regime, blowing cross-shore and often putting a bit of texture on the surface. Still, on a clean early morning with a fading W swell and an east wind, Matosinhos can offer some rippable, playful peaks. Air temps warm to 15.9°C, water temps hit 15.7°C, and precipitation averages 2.40 mm/day, so the beach season is starting.
Average Spot conditions at Matosinhos in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Matosinhos 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 Matosinhos for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Matosinhos 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 Matosinhos.