Conditions at Ponta do Paul in May
May: Smaller Swell, Clean Mornings
May sees the North Atlantic settle down noticeably. Average swell height falls to 5-6ft (1.5-1.8m) and the period drops to 10s, which is punchy but no longer heavy long-period groundswell. The swell direction tables are dominated by NNW at 34.2%, NNE at 15.9% and NW at 16.9%, with W only 2.5%. For a west-southwest-facing spot, the NNW/NNE combo creates a lot of short, shoulder-high lines rather than a classic deep-water wall.
Wind quality stays workable at 37% ideal. The Portuguese Nortada is strengthening: NNE accounts for 27.6% and NE 17.2%, with most winds in the 10-30kph range. Air temperatures rise to 18.3°C, water to 19.2°C, and precipitation is only 0.54mm/day. This is a good month for a shortboard and a 3/2mm wetsuit.
Average Spot conditions at Ponta do Paul in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Ponta do Paul 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 Ponta do Paul for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Ponta do Paul 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 Ponta do Paul.