Vairao • Statistics for April

April: Big South Pulses but Directionally Frustrating

April marks the true beginning of the Southern Hemisphere groundswell season, and the numbers show it: average wave heights leap to 7ft (2.1m) with a long 12.9s period. But the swell direction makes Vairao's life difficult. The S direction has a massive 31.8% share, SSE follows at 24.5%, and SSW and SE combine for another 25%; the total contribution from the preferred SW-WNW window is just over 2%. That is the classic signature of south swells swinging straight into the island and leaving this west-facing spot mostly shadowed.

What saves April is the wind. The ideal-favourable offshore flow is at 41%, with E and ESE trades dominating and very little onshore SW-WNW wind in the mix. Air temperatures remain warm at 27.1°C, water sits at 28.6°C, and rain eases to 4.07mm/day. It's a month of clean, glassy days where you can occasionally pick off an SSW or south-southwest wraparound, but expect plenty of frustration waiting for that westerly push that transforms Vairao into a proper performance wave.