Conditions at Strand in May
May: Winter Groundswell Machine
May is when the Southern Ocean truly roars. The average swell height jumps to 8.2ft (2.5m), the period to 12.3s, and the swell direction distribution broadens: SW 26.3%, SSW 12.1%, WSW 11.9% and W 2.4%. That shift toward the W/SW means more open-ocean fetch aimed directly at the southwest-facing beach. Critically, ideal wind windows reach 55% as the summer SE/SSE regime weakens and NNW/NW breezes become common, with NNW alone at 20.2%. Expect long-period groundswell and colder, more powerful conditions. Water temperature holds at 15.5°C, air averages 15.1°C, and precipitation rises to 2.33mm/day as frontal systems sweep through.
Average Spot conditions at Strand in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Strand 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 Strand for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Strand 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 Strand.