Conditions at Arica in March
March: The Change Begins
March is when the South Pacific starts to wake up. Average swell height ticks up to just over 5ft (1.6m) and the average period extends to 13.4s, injecting more power into the water. The 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) class jumps to 48.0% of waves, with 13.3% running 6.5-8ft (2-2.5m), so there are real, grinding winter-style lines in the mix. Directionally, SSW has increased to 35.2% and SW remains dominant at 63.6%-the southwest quadrant is in control. Yet the wind still refuses to cooperate: WSW (45.1%) and W (43.0%) blow onshore/cross-onshore nearly 90% of the time, with WNW adding 8.5%; ideal offshore conditions remain at 0%. Air temps are still warm at 22.6°C, water has cooled slightly to 20.3°C, and precipitation remains negligible. The surf is improving underneath a messy wind-chopped surface-patience is key.
Average Spot conditions at Arica in March
Swell history for March
Wind history for March
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Arica 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 Arica for your next trip in March.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Arica 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 Arica.