Minutes seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (December - February)
Winter roars to life along the Canadian East Coast as the North Atlantic pumps out consistent, solid swell. From December through February, average wave heights hold steady around 1.7m, with periods averaging 8.7s – that's the sweet spot for punchy, rippable waves. The dominant swell directions tilt heavily toward the SW and SSW quadrants, which are prime angles for this east-facing beach. Offshore winds from the WNW and NW blow around half the time, often aligning with the best swells to create clean, powerful surf. This is when the combination of size and favorable wind is most consistent, delivering pumping sessions for those who can handle the winter chill.
Fair Surf Season (March - May & September - November)
Transition months see a gradual shift in both swell energy and wind patterns. March still kicks with 1.6m averages, but the frequency of ideal offshore winds drops to 48%. April and May see swell heights decline to 1.4m and 1.2m, respectively, while periods shorten – yet the swell window rotates more south, with SSE and S directions becoming increasingly dominant. These are less optimal for the spot but can still produce fun, groveling waves when the wind cooperates. September through November tell a similar story in reverse: swell ramps back up from 1.2m to 1.6m, and the wind steadiness improves slightly (55-61% ideal in Sep-Oct). These months offer a mix of clean days and messy onshore slop, making it a gamble for quality, but the potential for solid, long-period groundswell exists if a strong extratropical storm tracks right.
Low Surf Season (June - August)
Summer brings the smallest surf of the year, with average wave heights hovering around just 1.0m and periods slipping to 7.2-7.7s. The swell is almost entirely from the S and SSW – directions that rarely produce the clean, lined-up waves this east-facing beach craves. However, the trade-off is stellar wind conditions: offshore breezes from SW through NW blow over 65% of the time, especially in July (68%) and August (67%). That means glassy mornings and small, fun-sized waves perfect for longboarding or a grovel session. If you're after size, this is the time to travel; if you're after perfection on a micro-swell, summer can deliver surprisingly clean logs.
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Conditions at Minutes in May
May: Small Swell, Clean Windows
May continues the downward trend, with average height dropping to 1.2m and period to 7.7s. The swell is overwhelmingly from the S (21.4%) and SSW (19.8%), with SSE (17.9%) close behind. These directions are suboptimal for this spot – they generate short-period, wind-swell-oriented waves that break mushier and less consistently. However, ideal wind improves to 48%, thanks to a higher frequency of light offshore breezes from SSW (13.3%) and SW (9.2%) in the lower wind speed range (0-10 kph and 10-20 kph). This means many mornings are glassy, perfect for longboards or grovelers. The small size is actually a blessing for beginners or those looking to practice turns on forgiving waves. Don't expect any bombs, but do expect plenty of clean, fun-sized runners if you're willing to work for them.
Average Spot conditions at Minutes in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Minutes 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 Minutes for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Minutes 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 Minutes.
