Woolacombe • Statistics for March

March: The Equinox Transition

March still delivers strong winter surf, though the engine starts to soften slightly. Average height eases to 5.9ft (1.8m) with period at 10.6s, so expect rideable, punchy conditions rather than constant XXL. The swell rose is dominated by W at 33.2 percent and WSW at 22.0 percent, with WNW and NW adding another 10.3 percent. That means Woolacombe's west-facing sand is constantly exposed to swell. The wind pattern remains wintry; westerly winds are still common, but the easterly block is solid too, with ENE, E, ESE and SE totalling 22.8 percent. Ideal surfing wind clocks in at 12 percent. This is often when the first spring-like high pressure settles on the UK, giving lighter offshore ENE or ESE mornings and cleaner 4-6ft (1.2-1.8m) waves. Water temperature is still cold at 8.6C, air averages 7.2C and precipitation drops to 2.54mm/day, so keep the winter wetsuit on and leave the hood in the car for the mild afternoons.