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Conditions at Newport Beach in May
May: Long-Period Hopes and Overwhelming Onshore Flow
May ushers in the true summer swell pattern. Average period is a long 13.7s, with average height at 1.0m (3ft). Swell directions shift southwest: WSW leads at 38.2%, SW at 32.8%, W at 16.6% and SSW at 12.3%. The directional alignment is quite good for Newport, but the overall size is still small-to-fun, with most energy sitting in the 0.5-1m (2-3ft) category.
Wind is the major issue. Ideal offshore flow falls to just 4%, while W wind at 21.8% and WSW at 22.0% create persistent onshore conditions. The thermal low is strengthening, and May gray often keeps the coast under low clouds. Air temperature reaches 16.4C, water temperature 14.9C, and rainfall is only 0.24 mm/day. The best chance for clean waves is in the hour after sunrise, before the southwest sea breeze takes over.
Average Spot conditions at Newport Beach in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Newport 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 Newport Beach for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Newport 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 Newport Beach.