Conditions at Biarritz in January
January: The North Atlantic Fires on All Cylinders
January is the heart of the Biarritz winter and the numbers deliver in a big way. Average swell height sits at 6ft (1.8m) with a long-period 13.0s, and the directional compass is dominated by WNW (42.7 percent), NW (29.3 percent) and NNW (4.8 percent) - essentially 77 percent of all swell arriving from the ideal window. The height distribution is heavy: more than 40 percent of readings fall in the 5-8ft (1.5-2.5m) band, with a solid dose of overhead-plus energy. This is North Atlantic groundswell firing into the Bay of Biscay with real power.
Wind is the key variable. S and SSW winds total nearly 22 percent, and when you add SW/WSW the offshore flow is even stronger; the wind is ideal for surfing 47 percent of the time. That means frequent clean windows between winter fronts, especially when high pressure nudges in from the south. Air temperatures average just 7.0°C and water sits at 12.5°C, so bring the thickest rubber in your bag. On the right day, January in Biarritz is as good as it gets.
Average Spot conditions at Biarritz in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Biarritz 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 Biarritz for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Biarritz 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 Biarritz.