Conditions at Ribeira d'Ilhas in March
March: Late-Winter Swell with Lighter Days
March is the last true deep-winter month. Average heights drop only slightly to 2.3m (7.5ft), and the average period remains a solid 12.3s, so Atlantic lows are still generating powerful, well-spaced lines. The swell direction shifts toward the NW quadrant - NW leads at 24.5%, followed by WNW at 18.3% and NNW at 14.8% - which keeps Ribeira's sand-and-rock lineups working. The offshore wind share drops to roughly 17% in the raw wind quadrants (NE, ENE, E, ESE), and ideal conditions sit at 22%, meaning wave quality becomes more wind-dependent than in January or February. NNW winds are the main culprit at 20.9%, often producing bumpy, cross-shore conditions. Still, the longer daylight and air temps averaging 13.4°C make dawn patrols more pleasant, and a 4/3 wetsuit with water at 14.7°C is still the ticket. Catch a NE or E wind morning and March still delivers heavy, rifling peaks before the spring transition takes hold.
Average Spot conditions at Ribeira d'Ilhas in March
Swell history for March
Wind history for March
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Ribeira d'Ilhas 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 Ribeira d'Ilhas for your next trip in March.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Ribeira d'Ilhas 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 Ribeira d'Ilhas.