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Conditions at The Dunes in May
May: The Winter Machine Wakes Up
May is when The Dunes really hits its stride. Average swell height climbs to 2.6m (8.5ft) and the period solidifies at 12.4s - a powerful, long-period signal. The direction mix improves noticeably: SW remains the largest source at 25.7 percent, but WSW jumps to 11.9 percent, SSW drops to 11.8 percent, and W swell adds another 2.1 percent. That means over 14 percent of the total swell is now arriving from the preferred WSW/W/WNW/NW window. These are the cleaner, more organized lines that actually stand up on the beach.
The wind also gets more cooperative. The ideal wind percentage reaches 24 percent, with SE at 14.3 percent and SSE at 16.8 percent - a solid blend of cross-offshore morning flow. NNW winds still appear at 20.7 percent, and those are definitely onshore for a WNW-facing beach, so picking the windows is key. Water temp is 16.6C, air temps average 16.5C, and rainfall increases to 1.57 mm/day. May delivers the first true firing weeks of the season.
Average Spot conditions at The Dunes in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at The Dunes 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 The Dunes for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at The Dunes 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 The Dunes.