Conditions at Playa Honda in May
May: The Trade Wind Grovel
May is where Playa Honda starts to feel the summer pinch. Average wave heights dip to 4ft (1.3m) and periods drop to 9.1s, which puts the surf squarely in the average windswell category. The swell direction is almost exclusively from the north and northeast: N (25%), NNE (30%) and NNW (33%) make up nearly 90% of the rose. For a south-facing beach, this means the waves are mostly short-period, shadowed leftovers rather than proper groundswell. The wind pattern is very much trade-wind dominated, with NNE at 38% and N at 21%, yet ideal offshore flow still manages 22% of the time, especially during the early morning. Water temperatures warm to 19.4°C, air averages 19.4°C, and precipitation all but disappears at 0.10 mm/day. Playa Honda in May is all about timing: grab a longboard, pick a clean north-wind day and enjoy a fun but grovelly 3-4ft (0.9-1.2m) wave.
Average Spot conditions at Playa Honda in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Playa Honda 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 Honda for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Playa Honda 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 Honda.