Conditions at Praia das Macas in May
May: Small but Rippable
May ushers in the late-spring downswing. Average swell height drops to 1.7m (5.6ft) and period falls to 9.9s, meaning waves have much less push and organisation. The swell direction is still favorable - NNW (31.5%), NW (30.5%), WNW (17.4%) and W (8.8%) dominate - but the energy is increasingly short-period windswell rather than true Atlantic groundswell. Most waves fall in the 1-2m (3.3-6.6ft) range, with only occasional bigger sets.
Wind quality is poor, with ideal conditions only 9% of the time. The NNW wind blows a massive 40.5% of the time, often at 20-40kph, putting a steep chop on the face. SW (4.8%) and SSW (4.8%) are the offshore directions to watch for rare clean moments. Water temperature is 16.4°C, air averages 16.7°C (8.4-29.9°C), and rainfall drops to 1.48mm/day. May is best for those happy to log fun, grovelly waves in small summer gear.
Average Spot conditions at Praia das Macas in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Praia das Macas 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 Macas for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Praia das Macas 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 Macas.