Conditions at Belharra in January
January: The Deep-Rumble Season
January sits at the heart of Belharra's prime window. The average swell is 7ft (2.1m) with a long-period 12.7s, and offshore S/SSW flow blows 37% of the time - one of the best winter percentages of the year. The swell rose is heavily weighted toward NW (28%) and WNW (26%), with another 8% from NNW, meaning the majority of wave energy arrives straight into the spot's NNW face. Most of that energy falls in the 5-8ft (1.5-2.5m) range on the buoy, with a solid slab over 8ft (2.5m). These are true North Atlantic groundswells generated by strong extratropical cyclones west of Ireland. The downside is weather: air temps hover near 9°C and rain averages 3.5mm/day, so be ready for cold, raw conditions. When a high-pressure ridge over France aligns with a deep low in the Atlantic, the S/SSW offshore wind grooves up Belharra and it can be genuinely special.
Average Spot conditions at Belharra in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Belharra 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 Belharra for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Belharra 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 Belharra.