Conditions at Reef in May
May: Lingering Swell and the Summer Breeze
By May, the surf is undeniably downsizing. The average swell height is 5.6ft (1.7m), and the average period has fallen to 9.9 seconds - right on the edge between average wind-swell and short-period groundswell. Directionally, the swell has gone very north: NNW and NW combine for more than 60% of the total, with WNW and W filling in the rest. This means the reef still sees waves, but they tend to be more punchy, sectiony, and wind-affected than the clean lines of winter.
Wind is the bigger story. The offshore east to southeast quadrant collapses to just 4% of observations, and ideal surf conditions are down to 10%. NNW wind blows an astonishing 36.5% of the time, with N at 12.7% and NW at 9.3%. It is not necessarily all onshore, but it is rarely glassy. Water warms to 16.5°C, air temps reach 16.7°C, and precipitation drops to 1.48mm/day. May is for wetsuit sunrise sessions on a longboard when the ocean decides to cooperate.
Average Spot conditions at Reef in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Reef 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 Reef for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Reef 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 Reef.