Conditions at Pico da Mota in April
April: Swell Fades as the Onshore North Wind Tightens Its Grip
April marks the transition toward spring. The average swell height drops to 6.9ft (2.1m) and the average period falls to 11.2s, so the ocean still has some winter muscle but the consistency starts to fade. The NW/NNW direction dominates the wave rose even more: WNW 19.7%, NW 25.1% and NNW 19.8% combine for a massive share of the season, with most waves in the 3-6ft (1-2m) range and a solid number in the 6-8ft (1.8-2.5m) range. The wind pattern, however, becomes less favorable. Ideal conditions occur only 16% of the time, as NNW winds explode to 27.3% of the wind rose and N winds add another 9.2%. For a beach facing northwest, these are direct onshore winds, and they put a ceiling on how good Pico da Mota can look. The offshore S/SSW/SW/WSW sectors total around 17.7% at all speeds, but they rarely align with the strongest groundswell. Water temperature rises to 15.3°C, air averages 14.5°C, and rainfall is 2.08 mm/day. April is for the dedicated - you need patience for the odd clean overlap between fading swell and a southerly breeze.
Average Spot conditions at Pico da Mota in April
Swell history for April
Wind history for April
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Pico da Mota 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 Pico da Mota for your next trip in April.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Pico da Mota 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 Pico da Mota.