Conditions at Playa de Famara in May
May: Summer Approaching With Shorter-Period North Swell
May is the start of the slow grind toward summer. Average swell height drops to 1.3m (4.3ft) and the average period falls to 9.1s, pushing the surf into a shorter-period, punchy windswell category. The direction mix is still from the north: N at 24.9%, NNE at 30.1% and NNW at 33.2%, so there is always some energy around. But the wind is brutal for quality. Ideal offshore flow occurs only 2 percent of the time, with NNE winds at 37.9%, NNW at 23.8% and N at 21.4% ramping up through the day. You will need to surf very early, before 10am, to catch any clean shape. Water temperature warms to 19.0°C and air temps reach 19.4°C. Rainfall is minimal at 0.10mm/day. It is groveling season, but a desperate surfer can still find fun, rippable 3-4ft (0.9-1.2m) corners between the trade wind lines.
Average Spot conditions at Playa de Famara in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Playa de Famara 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 Playa de Famara for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Playa de Famara 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 Playa de Famara.