Conditions at Backdoor in April
April: Trade Swell Takes Command
April is a transition month, and you can feel it in the numbers. Average swell height drops to 2.2m (7.2ft) and period shortens to 10.3s. The direction mix flips: ENE (24.2%) and NE (17.5%) now lead, with E adding 7.2% and NNE 11.7%. The ideal NNW component is still present at 9.0%, with 4.7% from N, but the ratio is shifting toward locally generated trade-wind swell. These easterly angled swells are less efficient at Backdoor, and they usually arrive with the same ENE/E trades that dominate the wind rose (37.0% and 36.0%, respectively). Ideal offshore wind only clocks in 16% of the time. The result is a bumpier, less consistent lineup. Still, a late-season north swell can fire Backdoor on the right day. Air temperatures climb to 23.5°C (min 19.1°C, max 27.5°C), rain is lower at 1.39 mm/day, and water temperature is 24.2°C.
Average Spot conditions at Backdoor in April
Swell history for April
Wind history for April
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Backdoor 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 Backdoor for your next trip in April.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Backdoor 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 Backdoor.