Lagoa de Albufeira • Statistics for April

April: Swell on the Wane, Wind on the Rise

April marks a genuine transition. The average swell height falls to 1.5m (4-5ft) and the average period drops to 11.1s, which takes some of the heavy, groundswell feel out of the lineup. The direction mix is still excellent - WNW 36.7%, NW 30.9% and W 14.3% - so Lagoa de Albufeira continues to receive waves from its favorite window, but the height distribution shows a clear shift toward the 0.5-1.5m (2-5ft) range. You will still see shoulder-to-head-high days, especially during mid-month NW pulses, but the consistent XL winter swells are gone.

The wind is where April gets tricky. NNW flow dominates at 28.3%, with NW adding 13.8% and WNW another 9.3%; combined with W, that puts a large share of the month under cross-shore to onshore breezes. Ideal offshore E/SE flow is scarce, reflected in the 15% ideal-wind frequency. The good news is warmer air - 15.1°C average (min 9.6°C, max 26.2°C) - and the water temperature rising to 15.7°C. It is a spring surf experience: less consistent, wind-affected at times, but still capable of delivering clean, rippable waves when the morning northerly stays light.