Conditions at Cote des Basques in March
March: Less Size, More Unpredictability
March begins to soften the winter grip. Swell averages 5ft (1.6m) with a 12.2 second period, so the water is still full of long-period North Atlantic energy. The WNW and NW quadrants continue to dominate, combined they represent around 81 percent of the wave directions, but the height distribution shifts toward the 1-1.5m (3-5ft) range, with fewer heavy 2.5m+ sets than January and February.
The wind becomes more of a springtime challenge. The ideal wind window drops to 35 percent and the wind rose is more variable, with W, WNW, NW and NNW all competing for dominance. As the land heats up, afternoon sea breezes begin to mix into the afternoon, so the cleanest sessions are often earlier in the day. Air temperatures rise to 10.7°C, the water sits at 12.7°C, and average precipitation of 2.62 mm/day keeps the region slightly drier than mid-winter.
Average Spot conditions at Cote des Basques in March
Swell history for March
Wind history for March
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Cote des Basques during March. 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 March.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Cote des Basques for March. 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.