Conditions at Ria Formosa in May
May: Summer Silence Sets In
By May, the Azores High is starting to lock in place and the North Atlantic storm track is pushing farther north. Average swell height drops to 2.3ft (0.7m), average period falls to 7.8s, and ideal wind only occurs 15 percent of the time. Swell direction is still mostly W (21.6 percent), WNW (21.5 percent), NW (13.0 percent) and WSW (13.4 percent), but the heights are dominated by small, weak waves. NNW winds lead the wind rose at 18.2 percent, with many days of moderate cross-shore or offshore-angle flow that lack real swell. Water warms to 17.3°C and rainfall drops to 1.11mm/day. The longboard is the right tool, and the occasional southwesterly pulse can provide a fun summer wave while the rest of the coast is flat.
Average Spot conditions at Ria Formosa in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Ria Formosa 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 Ria Formosa for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Ria Formosa 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 Ria Formosa.