Conditions at Zarautz in April
April: Shoulder-Season Cleanup
April marks the transition from winter power to spring fickleness. The average swell height eases to 5ft (1.5m), and the average period shortens to 10.8s - still rideable, but with less push behind it. The direction is beautifully consistent: a remarkable 39.3% NW, 29.2% WNW and 15.5% NNW, so the swell almost always arrives in Zarautz's favourite quadrant. You just need enough size, and April tends to dish out plenty of 1-2m (3-6ft) waves rather than the giants of January and February.
Winds are less cooperative. NNW, WNW and NW breezes become common, and the ideal offshore S/SSW flow drops to around 12.5%, which is why ideal conditions are observed only 33% of the time. The classic April set-up is a clean, glassy morning with a light southerly land breeze before a sea breeze ruins the surface by midday. With water temperature 13.9°C and air temps averaging 12.2°C, the crowds start to multiply on the better days. It is still worth paddling out, but pick the dawn patrol windows.
Average Spot conditions at Zarautz in April
Swell history for April
Wind history for April
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Zarautz 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 Zarautz for your next trip in April.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Zarautz 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 Zarautz.