Conditions at Cote des Basques in April
April: Shoulder-Season Promise with Fickle Wind
April settles into the spring shoulder. Average swell height drops to 4ft (1.2m) and the period relaxes to 11.0 seconds, still in the powerful category but with noticeably less water moving than in winter. The wave rose remains overwhelmingly W-facing: WNW at 42 percent and NW at 40 percent account for over 80 percent of the swell directions, but the bulk of the energy is now in the 0.5-1.5m (2-5ft) range. It is a grovel-and-grab month: fun, rippable waves when the winds cooperate, but no longer the heavy winter slabs.
The main problem is the wind. Ideal conditions fall to 29 percent, with W, WNW, NW and NNW directions all showing double-digit percentages. That means onshore flow is almost as common as not. Early-morning offshore windows are the key, especially as the first spring warmth starts to generate afternoon sea breezes. Water temperature climbs to 14.1°C and air averages 12.2°C, so the winter suit stays for now, but the weather is becoming noticeably more pleasant.
Average Spot conditions at Cote des Basques in April
Swell history for April
Wind history for April
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Cote des Basques 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 Cote des Basques for your next trip in April.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Cote des Basques 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 Cote des Basques.