Punta de Lobos • Statistics for March

March: Autumn's Long-Period Onset

March signals the tipping point from summer slumber toward autumn's awakening in the Southeast Pacific. The average swell period reaches its annual peak at 13.0s, and while WSW energy still dominates at 71 percent, the SW quadrant strengthens to 19 percent and the W window holds at 9 percent. The beginnings of a seasonal shift are visible in the data - the first faint traces of WNW and even light NW swell start to appear, hinting at the low-pressure stirrings farther south.

Wave height stays at 5ft (1.6m) on average, but clean, long-period lines make it feel larger; nearly 50 percent of waves break in the 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) range and around 13 percent reach 6.5-8ft (2-2.5m). Wind quality improves noticeably, with ideal surfing winds jumping to 69 percent as the offshore SSW-SW-S flow consolidates to 62 percent of all wind observations. Air temperatures cool to 17.4°C (63°F), ocean temps slip to 13.8°C (56°F), and the 0.24 mm/day of rain keeps the hillside dry. For the surfer, March delivers the first real taste of winter potential without the winter chill - a long-period, well-groomed prelude to the heavy months ahead.