Conditions at Zarautz in May
May: Small but Clean Windows
By May, the winter swell machine is winding down. Zarautz averages 4ft (1.2m) of swell at 9.9s, and while the direction remains incredibly NW-dominant - 50.9% NW and 28.0% WNW - the wave heights are concentrated in the 0.5-1.5m (2-5ft) range. This is small, fun-sized surf rather than the heavy grinding slabs of the winter months. Longer-period leftovers from North Atlantic lows can still light it up for a day or two, but these become increasingly rare as the month wears on.
The wind regime shifts too. The NNW and WNW breezes are now the most frequent directions, and the S/SSW offshore flow makes up just 10.2% of observations. With ideal conditions only 29% of the time, May rewards those who can drop everything and go when the wind is southerly. Air temperatures rise to 15.1°C, water warms to 16.1°C, and the first real spring warmth arrives. It is small, but the potential for clean, rippable, uncrowded waves on a longboard or a fish is real.
Average Spot conditions at Zarautz in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Zarautz 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 Zarautz for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Zarautz 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 Zarautz.