Minutes seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (December - February)
Winter roars to life along the Canadian East Coast as the North Atlantic pumps out consistent, solid swell. From December through February, average wave heights hold steady around 1.7m, with periods averaging 8.7s – that's the sweet spot for punchy, rippable waves. The dominant swell directions tilt heavily toward the SW and SSW quadrants, which are prime angles for this east-facing beach. Offshore winds from the WNW and NW blow around half the time, often aligning with the best swells to create clean, powerful surf. This is when the combination of size and favorable wind is most consistent, delivering pumping sessions for those who can handle the winter chill.
Fair Surf Season (March - May & September - November)
Transition months see a gradual shift in both swell energy and wind patterns. March still kicks with 1.6m averages, but the frequency of ideal offshore winds drops to 48%. April and May see swell heights decline to 1.4m and 1.2m, respectively, while periods shorten – yet the swell window rotates more south, with SSE and S directions becoming increasingly dominant. These are less optimal for the spot but can still produce fun, groveling waves when the wind cooperates. September through November tell a similar story in reverse: swell ramps back up from 1.2m to 1.6m, and the wind steadiness improves slightly (55-61% ideal in Sep-Oct). These months offer a mix of clean days and messy onshore slop, making it a gamble for quality, but the potential for solid, long-period groundswell exists if a strong extratropical storm tracks right.
Low Surf Season (June - August)
Summer brings the smallest surf of the year, with average wave heights hovering around just 1.0m and periods slipping to 7.2-7.7s. The swell is almost entirely from the S and SSW – directions that rarely produce the clean, lined-up waves this east-facing beach craves. However, the trade-off is stellar wind conditions: offshore breezes from SW through NW blow over 65% of the time, especially in July (68%) and August (67%). That means glassy mornings and small, fun-sized waves perfect for longboarding or a grovel session. If you're after size, this is the time to travel; if you're after perfection on a micro-swell, summer can deliver surprisingly clean logs.
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Conditions at Minutes in April
April: Mixed Signals
April marks a noticeable drop in size – average height falls to 1.4m, period to 8.4s. The swell window rotates further south, with SSW (19.6%) and S (17.2%) dominating, while SSE (12.2%) and SE (9.2%) also contribute. These southerly swells approach the east-facing beach at a sharper angle, often producing weaker, more broken waves. The ideal wind percentage drops to 46%, the lowest of the year. Offshore flows from the WNW (8.0%) and NW (6.5%) are less common, and onshore winds from the SSW (10.1%) increase. Surfable days exist, but they require a careful balance: a moderate SSW swell combined with a morning NW wind can yield fun, waist-to-chest-high waves. As spring storms become less frequent, the surf becomes more inconsistent, so keep your expectations tempered and your board ready for clean, small windows.
Average Spot conditions at Minutes in April
Swell history for April
Wind history for April
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Minutes 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 Minutes for your next trip in April.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Minutes 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 Minutes.
