Woolacombe • Statistics for April

April: Showers, Banks and Cleaner Windows

April is a transition month. The average swell drops to 4.3ft (1.3m) and period fades to 9.5s, so while the ocean is still active, the heavy winter groundswell becomes less consistent. Swell direction remains incredibly favourable, with W and WSW making up 56.6 percent of the rose; adding WNW and NW pushes the optimal swell window to 70.2 percent. The problem is size: most W and WSW energy sits between 0.5-1.5m (1.6-4.9ft), with only modest amounts in the 2m-plus category. On the wind side, offshore ENE and E flows are more prominent, combining for 16.8 percent, and ideal wind percentage nudges up to 16 percent, the best of the year. This combination means April can produce classic spring clean-up days: playful 3-5ft (0.9-1.5m) peaks on an east wind, favourable banks and fewer crowds than summer. Water temperature is still only 9.9C, so a solid 4/3 suit is required, but air temperatures reaching up to 19C make the session more pleasant. Rainfall drops to 2.39mm/day, and passing showers often deliver the exact wind shift you need.