Nahoon Reef • Statistics for March

March: The Autumn Transition Begins to Polish the Reef

March marks the start of the autumn shift as the ocean begins to cool and the Southern Ocean starts flexing more muscle. Average swell height moves up slightly to 6-7ft (1.9m) and the period lengthens to 10.8s, adding more punch to Nahoon's takeoff zone. Direction-wise, the E/ESE/SE/SSE window remains strong at 52.3 per cent, with SSE delivering 16.0 per cent and S providing 22.1 per cent - a bit more south in the mix than midsummer. The 1.5-2.5m size bins are exceptionally well represented, with SSW showing 8.5 per cent at 1.5-2m and 5.7 per cent at 2-2.5m. Favourable wind jumps to 21 per cent, and although NE and ENE still combine for over 36 per cent, the growing frequency of WSW at 12.3 per cent and SW at 12.7 per cent often signals cleaner, less wind-ravaged conditions.

With an average air temperature of 22.9°C, water at 21.6°C and fewer rainy days at 3.32mm/day, March is a reliable shoulder-season month for good waves at Nahoon. The first half of the month tends to hold more summer-like E/ESE energy, while the back half begins picking up longer-period south swells from the developing winter storm tracks.