Conditions at Machico in March
March: The Last Big Push Before Spring
March marks the tail end of true winter swell season. The average wave height is still solid at 2.4m (7.9ft) with a 12.1s period, and the dominant directions remain NNW (23.3%) and NW (14.4%), with a growing N/NNE component. The E/SE window remains essentially closed-almost zero directional observations from the optimal quadrant-so Machico continues to rely on northwest groundswell wrapping around the island. Winds become a bit more favorable, with ideal conditions 37% of the time; NNE (18.9%) and NNW (15.2%) dominate the wind rose. Lighter winds and a slight shift away from the straight-east onshore flow make for cleaner surfaces and more rideable conditions than December or January. Water temperature is at its coolest, 17.7°C, air averages 16.3°C, and precipitation steadies at 1.29 mm/day. The waves can still be powerful, but the calendar is turning toward cleaner, smaller days.
Average Spot conditions at Machico in March
Swell history for March
Wind history for March
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Machico 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 Machico for your next trip in March.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Machico 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 Machico.