Conditions at Troia in May
May: Small Swell and the Summer Wind Machine
May is a lull month at Troia. Average swell height falls to 4ft (1.2m), average period drops to 10.0s, and wave energy becomes increasingly windswell-influenced. The swell rose is dominated by NW (40.2%) and WNW (32.8%), with W at 13.6%; SW/WSW contributions are minimal. Most waves sit in the 2-3ft (0.5-1m) and 3-5ft (1-1.5m) range, meaning waist- to chest-high surf that needs the right sandbar and tide to feel decent.
The wind pattern becomes the real limiting factor. Ideal conditions sit at just 29%, with the famous Portuguese summer northerly kicking in: NNW is a massive 31.5% and NW adds 15.5%, producing persistent cross-shore/sideshore breeze. Offshore NE flow is scarce at around 9%. Air temperatures are pleasant at 18.2°C, water temperatures reach 16.2°C, and rain is less frequent at 1.42mm/day. If you score an early E/NE offshore and a leftover W pulse, there are fun waves; otherwise, keep expectations low.
Average Spot conditions at Troia in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Troia 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 Troia for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Troia 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 Troia.