Conditions at Orrua in May
May: Small and Groovy
May brings a real shift toward smaller surf at Orrua. The average swell height drops to 1.2m (3-4ft) and the period falls to 9.9s, giving the waves a more windswell-influenced feel. The direction distribution remains remarkably NW-heavy: NW at 51%, WNW at 28% and NNW at 13%. There is still enough energy to surf, but it is no longer deep-water heavy. Good wind days become less reliable, with ideal offshore conditions at 30% and S/SSW flow down to about 10%. Spring sea breezes and NNW/N winds are increasingly common, leaving dawn patrol as the cleanest slot. Water temperature warms to 16.1°C, air is 15.2°C and rain is 2.21 mm/day. This is small-wave season - longboard or groveler territory.
Average Spot conditions at Orrua in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Orrua 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 Orrua for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Orrua 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 Orrua.