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Conditions at Santa Maria in April
April: Spring Transition Brings Lighter, Smaller Lines
The winter swell engine begins to shut down in April. Average wave height drops to 1.7m (5-6ft) and, more telling, the average period falls to 9.7s - still punchy but no longer in the powerful long-period tier. Swell direction remains overwhelmingly NNE (61.1%), with N (19.4%) and NNW (15.1%) making up the rest. The bulk of waves are 1.5-2m (5-6ft), particularly from NNE, and the percentage of 2m+ waves shrinks quickly. Winds remain locked in the trade regime: NNE blows 62.4% of the time and NE another 28.3%, with ideal offshore wind only 7%. The good news is that these spring trades are often a touch weaker than midwinter, and the region sees virtually no rain (0.26 mm/day). Water temperature is 22.5°C and air temps warm slightly to 21.7°C. April is for the dedicated surfer who is happy to hunt out the odd corner peak on a north swell.
Average Spot conditions at Santa Maria in April
Swell history for April
Wind history for April
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Santa Maria 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 Santa Maria for your next trip in April.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Santa Maria 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 Santa Maria.