Conditions at Porto da Cruz in March
March: Big Swell Before the Spring Lull
March is still prime territory for surf. Storm energy in the North Atlantic remains strong, with average wave heights around 8ft (2.4m) and an average period of 12.1s. Swell direction is a continuation of winter: NNW leads with 23.3%, followed by NW at 14.4% and W-NW at 7.9%, while the N-NNE sector contributes roughly 16%. The trade-off is surf potential versus wind. Ideal S-SW offshore winds are present just 22% of the time, and NNE winds blow over 18% of the time, so surface conditions can be bumpy even when the charts look solid. March often delivers the last of the overhead groundswells before spring transition, and when a west-based low lingers offshore, Porto da Cruz can see excellent 6-8ft (1.8-2.4m) lines. Water temperature is 17.7°C, air averages 16.7°C, and rainfall backs down to 1.17mm/day.
Average Spot conditions at Porto da Cruz in March
Swell history for March
Wind history for March
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Porto da Cruz 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 Porto da Cruz for your next trip in March.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Porto da Cruz 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 Porto da Cruz.