Conditions at Praia da Barra in May
May: Dawn Patrol Gems
May is a classic shoulder month: average wave height down to 5-6ft (1.7m), period shortening to 9.9s, and ideal wind dropping to 25 percent. The swell window is still dominated by NW (32 percent), NNW (23 percent) and WNW (22 percent), but a lot of that energy is short-period windswell mixed with inconsistent groundswell. The Azores High is gaining control, so expect smaller, more fun-sized surf rather than all-day pumping waves. The 16.3°C water means the booties can be traded for a thin suit, and the 16.4°C air temperature makes dawn patrol pleasant. Look for early NE/E offshore windows before the stronger NNW gradient breeze muddies the surface.
Average Spot conditions at Praia da Barra in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Praia da Barra 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 Praia da Barra for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Praia da Barra 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 Praia da Barra.