Conditions at Santa Comba in May
May: Long Summer Days, Fading Power
May is a classic shoulder month where the ocean is still alive, but the energy is clearly winding down. The average swell height is 1.7m (5.6ft) with a 10.0s period, and there is plenty of rideable surf. The swell direction remains heavily NW-focused: WNW (22.1%), NW (21.6%), and NNW (18.5%) dominate, accounting for over 60% of the observations, with W (11.3%) also contributing. This means the window for northwest groundswell is wide, but the heights are generally in the 0.5-1.5m (1.6-4.9ft) range rather than the winter giants. The wind field becomes dominated by the Azores High, with NE (15.0%), ENE (11.6%), and NNE (9.6%) the most common; these directions are onshore or cross-shore for a north-facing beach, which is why ideal offshore wind drops to 22%. Offshore S/SSW/SW flows develop mostly as afternoon sea breezes or pre-frontal south winds, giving you clean glassy conditions in the morning before the seabreeze kicks in. Water temp climbs to 14.7C, air temp averages 13.8C, and rainfall is much lower at 2.29mm/day. It's fun, but not pumping.
Average Spot conditions at Santa Comba in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Santa Comba 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 Santa Comba for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Santa Comba 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 Santa Comba.