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Conditions at Humewood Pier in May
May: Bigger, Longer, Less Reliable
May is the gateway to serious winter swell. Average height springs to 2.2m and the period stretches to 12.2s - the first month with truly long-period groundswell. The source is distinctly SW-heavy: SW comes in at 21.3%, SSW at 27.9%, and S at 12.0%. That combination delivers more 2.5m-plus sets and heavy water across the nearshore banks. The key is that the swell has to wrap around the NNE-facing pier, and the SW component is nearly perfect for that.
Ideal wind drops to 23%, as WSW leads the offshore pack at 17.9% but W flow increases to 14.9%. Meanwhile, NNW winds rise to 8.6% - a sign of approaching cold fronts that can ruin surface quality. The water drops to 18.4°C and air to 18.2°C, so you need a decent wetsuit hood. When the weather window lines up right after a front, May offers some of the cleanest, most powerful surf of the year at Humewood Pier.
Average Spot conditions at Humewood Pier in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Humewood Pier 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 Humewood Pier for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Humewood Pier 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 Humewood Pier.