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Conditions at Rottnest Island in January
January: Summer Onshores and a South-Facing Mess
The new year opens with the subtropical ridge dominating the Indian Ocean, locking Rottnest into a classic summer pattern. The wave rose shows a strong dominance of SW energy at 47.5%, with SSW contributing another 33.7%, keeping the average swell height at 6ft (1.9m) and the average period at a respectable 11.6s. The problem is the wind. The S and SSW combined account for over 50% of all observations, with strong S/SSW gusts of 20-50kph common. These are direct onshore winds for a south-facing beach, so the swell arrives powerful but lumpy, with plenty of chop and shifting lineups. Ideal offshore N-NNW flow is almost nonexistent at 4%. Air temperatures average 22.9°C and water temperature sits at 21.5°C, while rain is minimal. It is really an early-morning or late-evening window game, grabbing the occasional clean south swell before seabreeze chop ruins it.
Average Spot conditions at Rottnest Island in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Rottnest Island during January. 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 Rottnest Island for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Rottnest Island for January. 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 Rottnest Island.