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Conditions at Papenoo in May
May: Trade-Swell Season and Sideshore Frustration
May solidifies the winter trade-wind pattern. The average swell height holds at 1.8m (6ft) and the average period slips to 11.8s, but the swell rose is an almost pure SE-SSE-ESE affair: SE accounts for 30 percent, SSE 23 percent, and ESE 20 percent. Less than 1 percent of the energy arrives from the N-NNW-NW window. In simple terms, the surf is there - often fun 3-6ft (1-2m) peaks on more exposed breaks - but Papenoo is not the right address.
The trade winds blow hardest from ESE and E, combining for about half of all wind observations, and ideal S-SSW-SW wind drops to 18 percent. The dry season is beginning, with only 2.90mm/day of rain, air temperature 26.5°C, and water temperature 28.1°C. Expect morning glass more often than in mid-summer, but do not expect Papenoo's north reefs to have much size or shape unless a rare north pulse cranks out of a late-season mid-latitude storm.
Average Spot conditions at Papenoo in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Papenoo 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 Papenoo for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Papenoo 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 Papenoo.