Conditions at Borkum in January
January: The Depth of Winter
January delivers the largest average swell of the year at 4-5ft (1.2-1.5m) and an average period of 6.5s, making it the heart of the Borkum surf season. The waverose is dominated by NNW swell at 12.7%, with W and WNW close behind at 11.7% and 11.0%; those westerly-to-northwesterly directions carry the most size, including pockets of 5-8ft (1.5-2.5m) swell. The wind rose tells a slightly different story though: SW, SSW and WSW dominate at 13.1%, 11.9% and 11.4%, giving the island a legitimate offshore/cross-offshore wind share. Still, only 11% of the time are conditions truly ideal. When a low pressure system stalls over the North Sea, N to NNW winds can ruin the lineup with raw onshore slop. With an average air temperature of 3.0°C, 2.61 mm of precipitation per day and water temperature at 4.9°C, January is a serious winter mission. Expect quick, hollow crumbles on the sandbars rather than long walls.
Average Spot conditions at Borkum in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Borkum 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 Borkum for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Borkum 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 Borkum.