Conditions at Hondarribia in May
May: Longboard Days and Clean Windows
May arrives with a definite summer vibe. Average swell drops to 1.2m (4ft) and the average period falls to 9.9s, so the surf is definitely small. The swell spectrum is becoming dominated by NW energy-NW accounts for 51% of all observations, with WNW at 28% and NNW at 13%. This is the classic small-but-ridable month for Hondarribia, though the occasional late-season low can still send a fun 1-1.5m (3-5ft) set.
The wind is actually the best of the year statistically, with an ideal offshore window 37% of the time. WNW winds are most common at 15%, but there are more light south/southwest days, and the early morning is often glassy. When you get an early session with clean surface and a waist-to-chest-high NW swell, it feels like a gift. The main enemy is the afternoon northwesterly sea breeze that turns things bumpy.
Air temperature warms to 15.1°C, water climbs to 16.3°C, and precipitation eases to 2.51 mm/day. A 3/2 wetsuit starts to feel comfortable by midday, and the summer crowds are still a month away.
Average Spot conditions at Hondarribia in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Hondarribia 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 Hondarribia for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Hondarribia 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 Hondarribia.