Conditions at Reef in March
March: Heavy Swell, Shifting Winds
March still belongs in the best season, even as spring starts to tug at the atmosphere. The average swell is 7.5ft (2.3m), and the average period remains a solid 12.3 seconds - still genuine groundswell. Swell direction tilts a bit more northwesterly, with NW at 24.5% and WNW at 18.3% of the total, while W and NNW add plenty of rideable energy. There is a slight drop in the biggest swell category compared with midwinter, but the reef still sees plenty of 6-8ft (1.8-2.5m) days.
The trade-off is wind. NNW flow becomes the dominant wind direction at nearly 21%, and the offshore east to southeast quadrant fades to about 15% of readings. Ideal surf conditions drop to 19%. Air temperatures warm to 13.4°C, water remains a cool 14.7°C, and precipitation eases slightly to 1.77mm/day. If you score a March day with a light easterly offshore breeze and a fading WNW groundswell, you will find clean, powerful reef waves with far fewer crowds than in summer.
Average Spot conditions at Reef in March
Swell history for March
Wind history for March
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Reef 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 Reef for your next trip in March.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Reef 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 Reef.