Conditions at Maraa in May
May: Big South, Rougher Edges
May is the transition into pure winter. Average swell height bumps to 7ft (2.2m) with a still-impressive 12.9-second period. S and SSW swells combine for around 41 percent of the total, so there is no shortage of favorable southern-hemisphere groundswell. Solid 6-8ft (1.8-2.4m) windows are well represented, and the reef sees plenty of heavy, bowling sets.
The catch is wind. Ideal conditions drop to 31 percent as ESE winds build to 26.5 percent and SE becomes more active at 10 percent. This puts a cross-shore texture on the surface, especially in the afternoons. Early mornings with lighter E to ENE flow offer the best chance at clean, powerful Maraa. Water temp cools to 28.0°C, air averages 26.5°C, and precipitation drops to 2.9 mm/day. This is the start of the big-but-windy fair season.
Average Spot conditions at Maraa in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Maraa 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 Maraa for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Maraa 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 Maraa.