Conditions at Murtosa in May
May: Summer Pattern Bites
May is where the winter reliability fades under the influence of the Azores High. Average swell height falls to 1.6m (5.2ft) and the average period drops to 9.8s, which means more windswell and less true groundswell. The swell direction looks good on paper-NW is 30.6%, WNW is 22.8% and W is 11.1%-but much of that energy is short-period and locally generated. The 1-1.5m (3.3-4.9ft) and 1.5-2m (5-6.6ft) classes dominate, so there are still rideable waves for a groveler's longboard or a small-wave board. The wind is the deciding factor: ideal conditions drop to 21%, and the famous Iberian NNW wind machine already contributes 32.6% of all observations, with NW adding another 10.8%. The result is frequently bumpy, cross-shore surf. Air temperatures warm to 16.4°C, rainfall is moderate at 2.26 mm/day, and water temperature climbs to 16.0°C.
Average Spot conditions at Murtosa in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Murtosa 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 Murtosa for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Murtosa 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 Murtosa.