- Home
- ...Africa
South Africa- Plettenberg Bay
Conditions at Plettenberg Bay in March
March: Autumn's First Long-Period Pulse
March is where the season begins to shift. The average swell height nudges up to 2.1m (7ft), the average period stretches to 11.5s, and the ideal wind percentage improves to 43%. SSW remains the dominant swell direction at 33.8%, with S (18.6%) and SW (11.3%) also in the mix, but the surf now begins to feel more powerful as longer-period energy arrives from Southern Ocean fronts. The onshore E/ESE flow is still present but less dominant, while WSW and W winds combine for around 24% of the wind distribution. That means more groomed conditions and more rideable surface texture. Water temperature is easing to 19.2°C and air temps to 19.8°C, a small signal that winter wetsuits are on the horizon. March is a genuinely good month for Plettenberg Bay: solid height, improving wind stats, and the first true pulses of 10-14s groundswell building in the background.
Average Spot conditions at Plettenberg Bay in March
Swell history for March
Wind history for March
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Plettenberg Bay 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 Plettenberg Bay for your next trip in March.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Plettenberg Bay 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 Plettenberg Bay.