Conditions at Ribeira Quente in April
April: Transitional Clean Favour
April is where the trade-off becomes obvious: rapidly improving winds, but fading swells. The average swell height is down to 7.2ft (2.2m), and the period has slipped to 10.8 seconds - still respectable. The NNW/NW quadrant is, in fact, at its annual peak in terms of directional dominance (NNW 18.2%), but this is the exact direction that is blocked at Ribeira Quente. Good waves now hinge entirely on those brief pulses of south-southwest energy that can sidestep the island and hit the exposed bay.
Offshore winds are much more regular - 37 percent from N/NNE/NW/NNW - making April one of the most pleasant months for paddling. Air temps creep up to a maximum of 19.1°C and water holds at 16.3°C. When a late-season low spins by to the west, the bay can light up with waist-to-head-high waves under glassy conditions. If it's small, it's still a perfect month to practice in clean, if smaller, peelers.
Average Spot conditions at Ribeira Quente in April
Swell history for April
Wind history for April
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Ribeira Quente 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 Ribeira Quente for your next trip in April.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Ribeira Quente 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 Ribeira Quente.