Salsa Brava • Statistics for March

March: The Last Stand of Winter Swell

March marks the beginning of the seasonal fade, but it still delivers. Average swell height eases to around 4ft (1.2m) and period to 8.1s, but the surf quality percentage actually improves: the wind is ideal for surfing 37 percent of the time, the highest monthly mark of the year. The swell direction remains locked in from the ENE at 83 percent, with most energy in the 1.5-3ft (0.5-1m) and 3-5ft (1-1.5m) ranges. That means more fun, head-high, rippable surf rather than the bigger 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) days of January and February. N and NNE contributions are minimal, so Salsa Brava is again relying mostly on trade-wind swell rather than true northern groundswell.

Winds are more variable, with NNW still the biggest single direction at 13.9 percent, but the increase in light S/SW flow is enough to bump up the clean-hour count. Precipitation stays at 2.00 mm/day and water temperature warms to 27.9°C. March is a strong 'last call' for winter surf; the waves are a notch smaller, but the frequency of groomed conditions is the best you will find all year.