Conditions at Pico da Mota in March
March: Powerful Spring Swells Meet Stiff Northerlies
March is the last true winter month and it often goes out with a bang. Average swell height is 8.2ft (2.5m), with the average period slowing slightly to 12.4s - still comfortably in powerful long-period territory. The wave rose is dominated by the preferred directions: WNW 16.3%, NW 21.2% and NNW 13.5%. The 5-8ft (1.5-2.5m) range is the core, with a scattering of XL waves over 8ft (2.5m). Wind quality, however, is on a downward trend: ideal surf windows account for only 22% of the time. NNW winds (20.8%) and fresh N winds (10.5%) blow directly onto the beach more often, making the surf lumpy and bumpy. The saving grace is that March still gets genuine low pressure systems, and when the wind shifts to the S/SW quadrant, Pico da Mota can fire at an excellent level. Air temps rise to 13.5°C, water temp holds at 14.4°C, and precipitation drops to 1.92 mm/day. Bring the bigger board and be ready to pick your windows.
Average Spot conditions at Pico da Mota in March
Swell history for March
Wind history for March
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Pico da Mota 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 Pico da Mota for your next trip in March.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Pico da Mota 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 Pico da Mota.