Conditions at Sopelana in May
May: Warmth Arrives as Swell Fades
May is a transitional month where the North Atlantic loses some of its bite. Average swell heights fall to 1.2m (4ft) and average periods to 9.9s, so the surf is more fun-sized and punchy than powerful. The good news is that the direction is almost perfect: NW and NNW make up roughly 71% of the total swell, so the energy that does arrive hits the beach straight on. With an ideal-wind score of 29%, S/SSW winds are less common than in winter, and the increasing W/NW flow brings more onshore texture. The sea surface warms to 16°C while air temps average 15.2°C, and precipitation drops to 2.05mm/day. Look for small, clean mornings and soft shoulders - grovelers and loggers will enjoy May far more than those chasing juice.
Average Spot conditions at Sopelana in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Sopelana 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 Sopelana for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Sopelana 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 Sopelana.