Moruya Breakwall • Statistics for March

March: The First Real Offshore Windows

March marks the beginning of the autumn transition. Ideal wind jumps to 26 percent and the average period ticks up to 8.6s, while the average height holds at just over 4ft (1.3m). The swell still runs hot from the E (22 percent), ENE (17 percent) and ESE (18 percent), with an increasing SE/SSE presence as the first Tasman Sea lows begin to organize. A growing westerly component appears in the wind record - SW through WNW combine for about 10 percent of observations, with NNW and NW adding further cross-offshore influence. The NE sea breeze is still there, but it is no longer the whole story. Rain averages 2.75 mm/day and the ocean remains warm at 21.4°C, so the transition month offers warm-water surf and cleaner mornings. On the best days, the breakwall lines up on a punchy 3-5ft (1-1.5m) east swell under a light WSW morning breeze before the seabreeze kicks up.