Conditions at Praia das Bicas in May
May: Shoulder-Season Grind
May is a classic shoulder-season month at Praia das Bicas. Mean swell height slides to around 4ft (1.2m) and the average period is a modest 10.0s. Directionally, the Atlantic is still dominated by NW (40.2%), WNW (32.8%), and W (13.6%), so the spot remains exposed to passing swell pulses, but most heights fall in the 0.5-1.5m (2-5ft) range. Wind turns increasingly unfriendly as the Azores High strengthens. NNW is the dominant airflow at 36.3%, with NW at 15.2%, and the ideal offshore window shrinks to just 11%. Thermal northerlies chop up most afternoons, and the cleanest waves come in the early morning with a light east component. Water temperature climbs to 16.5°C, air averages 16.8°C (min 10.2°C, max 28.1°C), and rainfall is lighter at 1.33 mm/day. Expect small, grovelly, wind-affected surf.
Average Spot conditions at Praia das Bicas in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Praia das Bicas 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 das Bicas for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Praia das Bicas 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 das Bicas.