Conditions at Il Porto in March
March: Shoulder-Season S/SW Swell with Spring in the Air
March begins the slow slide toward smaller surf, but it is still firmly in the fair-to-good zone. Average swell height drops slightly to 0.8m (2.6ft), while average period holds at 5.1s. The direction mix is actually one of the most balanced of the year: WSW (14.0%), SW (13.7%), S (12.0%), SSE (11.4%) and SSW (8.4%) all feed the beach. There is still 1.5-2m (5-6ft) action on offer from SW and WSW, but the frequency of those larger waves is lower than in mid-winter.
Wind patterns begin to shift as thermal gradients and Mediterranean lows become more active. The offshore quadrant (N, NNE, NE, ENE) accounts for about 27% of the wind, enough to provide clean windows between fronts. SE and SSE winds also increase, and while they are not strictly onshore at Il Porto, they add cross-shore chop that degrades quality. Ideal surf wind sits at 12%. Water temperature is 13.9°C, air temperatures average 11.7°C, and precipitation remains high at 2.04 mm/day. Look for a fading low pressure system in the western Mediterranean to deliver a few final lined-up SW pulses before spring warmth takes over.
Average Spot conditions at Il Porto in March
Swell history for March
Wind history for March
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Il Porto 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 Il Porto for your next trip in March.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Il Porto 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 Il Porto.