Ollie's Point • Statistics for April

April: The Shift Into Long-Period SSW Groundswell

April marks the real seasonal hand-off. The average period climbs to 13.1s, and for the first time in months, SSW swell becomes the single largest directional class at 26.5 percent, with 16.9 percent in the 3-5ft (0.9-1.5m) range. Combined with S (10.6%) and SW (9.1%), favorable swell now accounts for roughly 46 percent of the wave energy, while NE/ENE windswell shrinks dramatically. The trade wind engine weakens as the ITCZ drifts north, and ideal wind conditions improve to 50 percent. NE and ENE winds are still common at 32.4 and 30.0 percent respectively, but they are lighter and less relentless, and the N/NW quadrants appear more often. This is when Ollie's Point starts to feel like a proper point break again: 3-6.5ft (1-2m) SSW/SW groundswell wrapping into the bay with glassy morning conditions. Air temperatures average 28.4°C, water temperatures climb to 28.2°C, and rain begins to creep into the pattern with 0.66 mm/day, but it is still mostly warm and sunny.