- Home
- ...Africa
South Africa- Cape St Francis
Conditions at Cape St Francis in May
May: Southern Ocean Power and West Wind Dominance
The Southern Ocean begins to roar in earnest. May averages 9-10ft (2.9m) at 12.2 seconds, and ideal wind ticks back up to 28 percent. SW becomes the dominant swell direction at 17.9 percent, with SSW at 13.7 percent; the E window nearly disappears at 0.8 percent. Winds are steadily more westerly: W is 24.7 percent and WSW 14.1 percent, with a growing NNW/NW component that spells trouble for a NE-facing coast. Water has cooled to 17.7°C, air to 17.2°C, and precipitation falls to 0.91 mm/day as high-pressure ridging takes hold. May is a month of power, but the power often arrives from the wrong direction; patience is required.
Average Spot conditions at Cape St Francis in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Cape St Francis 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 Cape St Francis for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Cape St Francis 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 Cape St Francis.