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Conditions at Playa Dominical in April
April: The Wind Begins to Fade
April is a deliciously painful month at Playa Dominical. The ocean is full of swell - average height 4ft (1.2m) and a 14.0s period, near the seasonal peak - and the direction is extraordinarily aligned: 96% of all waves come from the SSW. More than three-quarters of the waves fall in the 3-5ft (1-1.5m) range, with a noticeable 6% reaching 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m). For raw power and push, this is some of the best groundswell of the year.
The problem is wind. The percentage of ideal surf wind drops to 32% as the ITCZ begins to creep north. The wind roses show an increasing SE and SSE component and more frequent SSW/SW flow. Still, early mornings often deliver light offshore NNE breezes, and the offshore quadrant remains present enough to warrant a dawn patrol. Rain is still manageable at 3.46mm/day, water temp a steamy 29.3°C (85°F). If you can work around the wind, April dishes out proper head-high-plus South Pacific swell.
Average Spot conditions at Playa Dominical in April
Swell history for April
Wind history for April
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Playa Dominical during April. 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 Playa Dominical for your next trip in April.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Playa Dominical for April. 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 Playa Dominical.