Conditions at Pico da Mota in May
May: Late Spring Winds Rule, but There Are Still Windows
May is a month of smaller, wind-affected surf. The average swell height is down to 5.9ft (1.8m) and the period drops to 9.9s, moving out of true groundswell territory and into a punchier, more agitated state. The swell is still almost entirely from the optimal NW/NNW direction: WNW 17.4%, NW 28.4% and NNW 29.9%, but the heights are concentrated in the 3-6ft (1-2m) range with only occasional 6-8ft (1.8-2.5m) sets. The real problem is the wind: ideal conditions drop to just 13% of the time, while NNW wind rockets to 35.1% and N wind adds 12.1%. At Pico da Mota, that means persistent onshore pressure and less time in the water. Still, May can produce fun, rippable waves on a southerly wind day, especially when the swell period jumps above 10s. Water temperature climbs to 16.3°C, air temps average 16.3°C and precipitation is only 1.65 mm/day. It is not the season's peak, but it is far from flat.
Average Spot conditions at Pico da Mota in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Pico da Mota 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 Pico da Mota for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Pico da Mota 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 Pico da Mota.