Conditions at Pipe in May
May: First Taste of Winter Power
May is the real gear change. Average swell height is 2.2m (7ft), but the period jumps to 12.2s, and the surf has a heavy consistency that feels completely different from the summer months. Air temperature drops to 18.2°C (10.1-32.0°C), water temperature sits at 18.4°C, and precipitation is at its lowest, 0.79 mm/day. The ideal wind share is 25%. In the wave rose, SSW and SW now dominate together at 27.9% and 21.3% respectively, with S taking 12.0%. There is still little N/NE/E energy, so Pipe continues to depend on refraction, but the longer period makes that refraction far more effective. Winds become more offshore-friendly: WSW 17.9%, W 14.9%, WNW 6.9% and SW 6.5% combine into a powerful natural groom. The ENE/E problems also weaken. The result is a much better chance of solid overhead waves and the first truly hollow days of the year.
Average Spot conditions at Pipe in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Pipe 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 Pipe for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Pipe 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 Pipe.