Conditions at Bridges in May
May: Glassy Summer Grovel
May is where the low-summer pattern begins to set in, but the wind quality is at its spring peak. Average swell height holds at 0.7m (2.3ft), yet the period bottoms out to 6.1s. Swell direction is split predominantly between ESE (49.5%) and SE (44.8%), with almost no energy from the E or W quadrants. The height distribution is overwhelmingly 0.5-1m (1.6-3.3ft); together ESE and SE account for roughly 78% of that class, while 1-1.5m pulses are rare and there is no meaningful swell above 1.5m.
The wind regime becomes noticeably lighter and more offshore. The ideal-wind percentage reaches 55%, the second-highest of the year. E winds dominate at 27.2%, ENE at 28.6% and NE at 12.1%, with most speeds in the light-to-moderate 10-20kph range. This can produce glassy, rippable small waves on the break, especially during dawn patrol. However, with periods stuck at 6.1s and precipitation increasing to 4.18 mm/day, the surf lacks power. Water temp warms to 27.9°C and air averages 26.8°C.
Average Spot conditions at Bridges in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Bridges 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 Bridges for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Bridges 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 Bridges.