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Conditions at Long Beach in May
May: South Swell Season Begins
May sees Long Beach fully shift into spring mode. The average wave height drops to 4ft (1.1m), with an average period of 7.3s. The dominant swell source is now firmly from the south: SSE delivers 16.9%, S 19.0%, and SE 14.5%, with E and ESE also contributing large totals. However, most of that energy is in the 2-3ft (0.5-1m) and 3-5ft (1-1.5m) classes, meaning plenty of waves but not much power. The 5-6ft (1.5-2m) and larger categories shrink significantly, and long-period groundswells are rare.
Wind patterns become more spring-like. While NW/NNW offshore flow still appears about 13% of the time combined, S, SSW and SW winds now total over 26%, bringing more onshore and cross-shore conditions, especially in the afternoon. Ideal surf wind is 27%. The good news is comfort: air temperature averages 14.1°C, water temperature climbs to 12.7°C, and precipitation is moderate at 3.15 mm/day. The waves are often grovel-y and soft, but clean morning sessions can still be rewarding as the ocean warms up.
Average Spot conditions at Long Beach in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Long Beach 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 Long Beach for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Long Beach 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 Long Beach.