Laje da Jagua • Statistics for January

January: The Trade-Wind Lull

January is high summer at Laje da Jagua, and the average numbers tell the story: 1.5m (5ft) of swell on an 8.4s period, with only a quarter of the days offering ideal wind. The swell rose is heavily loaded toward the NE through ESE quadrant - ENE, E and ESE together account for over 60% of all wave energy - which means mostly short-period trade-wind sea pushed against the SE-facing coast. There is very little true S/SSW groundswell in the mix; S and SSW only combine for about 8% of the spectrum. The wind is dominated by the NE trade wind, with NE and ENE together around 42%, often blowing 10-30kph. These are cross-shore to onshore conditions for this ledge and they keep the surface lumpy. The warm water (23.6°C) and tropical air temperatures around 24.9°C make for pleasant beach days, but quality surfing is reserved for the occasional window when a front brushes the coast and the wind shifts to the offshore N/NW quadrant. On those days the E/SE swell can clean up into fun, rippable 3-5ft (0.9-1.5m) waves.