Conditions at Ria Formosa in April
April: The Shoulder Shuffle
April is where the winter consistency fades. Average swell drops to 2.6ft (0.8m), period down to 9.1s, and ideal wind windows fall to 19 percent. The swell rose still shows plenty of W (23.7 percent), WNW (19.1 percent) and WSW (14.7 percent), but much of it is in the smaller 2-3ft (0.5-1m) range and the longer period groundswell becomes harder to find. Late-season Atlantic lows can still drop a fun 3-5ft (0.9-1.5m) swell, but you need the tide, sandbar and offshore wind to align. Winds are increasingly influenced by low pressure migrating away, and the NW/NNW flow becomes more dominant. With water temperature at 16.6°C and air around 15.8°C, it is a comfortable but teasing month: small enough to need a grovel board most days, yet occasionally rewarding.
Average Spot conditions at Ria Formosa in April
Swell history for April
Wind history for April
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Ria Formosa 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 Ria Formosa for your next trip in April.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Ria Formosa 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 Ria Formosa.