Conditions at Lacanau in January
January: The Heart of the Winter Swell Machine
January is prime time for heavy Atlantic groundswell at Lacanau. The average swell height sits at 8ft (2.4m) with a powerful average period of 12.1 seconds, and the swell direction is dominated by WNW (32 percent), W (13 percent), NW (7 percent) and NNW (5 percent). The 5-8ft (1.5-2.4m) range is the standard, and there is a meaningful share of waves over 8ft (2.4m) when deep lows park near the Bay of Biscay. The wind is ideal 41 percent of the time, usually with ENE, E, ESE or SE flow ahead of cold fronts, though onshore WSW and WNW winds can quickly tear the surf apart. Air temperatures average 8.6°C, water temperatures sit at 11.5°C, and precipitation averages 2.85 mm/day, so expect cold, powerful, and often stormy conditions.
Average Spot conditions at Lacanau in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Lacanau 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 Lacanau for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Lacanau 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 Lacanau.