Imsouane seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (October - March)
The North Atlantic roars to life during the autumn and winter months, and Imsouane reaps the reward. From October through March, average swell heights hover near 2.0-2.3m with long periods of 11-13 seconds, fueled by powerful extratropical storms tracking across the North Atlantic. While the dominant swell direction is from the NW to NNW quadrant — not ideal for this SSW-facing bay — the long period energy wraps into the coast, and when combined with frequent offshore winds from the north through northeast, the conditions can be firing. The best swell angles are from the south and southwest, so a slight shift in storm track can produce world-class waves at the point. This is the prime window for epic, pumping surf.
Fair Surf Season (April & September)
April and September serve as transitional months. The average swell height drops slightly to 1.6-2.1m and periods shorten to 9-11 seconds as the storm track retreats north in spring or begins to strengthen in fall. The northwesterly swell still dominates, but the wind consistency remains favorable — especially in September with a 70% ideal wind score. Expect punchy, rideable waves with occasional larger long-period swells as the seasons shift. These months offer a nice balance of size and crowd-light conditions.
Low Surf Season (May - August)
Summer is the low season for wave size at Imsouane. From May through August, average swell heights drop to 1.6-1.9m and periods shorten to 7-9 seconds, with the swell almost exclusively from the north-northwest. The upside is the prevalence of offshore winds — June, July, and August all see ideal wind conditions over 59% of the time, often reaching 66-71%. This means clean, fun-sized waves perfect for loggers, grovelers, and beginners. While the heavy, pumping winter groundswells are a distant memory, the consistent, small summer surf offers its own charm with warm water and plenty of sunshine.
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Conditions at Imsouane in May
May: Summer Approaching with Small NW Swell
May sees the swell engine winding down. Average height drops to 1.9m and period shortens to 9.3 seconds — moving into the 'average, punchy' category. The swell direction is overwhelmingly from the north-northwest (62.6%) with only 15.9% from NW. This is far from ideal for Imsouane, but the consistent offshore winds (N at 31.5% and NNW at 26.6%) provide clean conditions. The percentage of ideal wind is 53%, similar to April. While the waves are smaller and shorter period, the frequent offshore breeze means groomed, fun-sized waves perfect for longboards and mid-lengths. It's a great month for beginners and those looking to enjoy the water without the winter crowds.
Average Spot conditions at Imsouane in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Imsouane 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 Imsouane for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Imsouane 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 Imsouane.
