Conditions at Cactus in March
March: Autumn Shift Begins
March marks the first meaningful shift toward cleaner conditions. Average wave period ticks up to 12.8s, and the SSW remains the dominant swell direction at 59.3 percent, with SW adding another 17.5 percent. The ideal wind percentage doubles from summer levels to 16 percent, and the offshore N-NNE/NE/ENE flow becomes a little more common. Still, SE/SSE winds account for just under half of the surface observations, so there is often a junky mid-morning texture before a land breeze or synoptic offshore appears. Water temperature starts to cool to 20.1°C and air temps average 20.8°C, making it a pleasant month to sit out the summer crowds and chase punchy, glassier waves.
Average Spot conditions at Cactus in March
Swell history for March
Wind history for March
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Cactus 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 Cactus for your next trip in March.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Cactus 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 Cactus.