Conditions at Varkala in January
January: The NE Monsoon's Glassy Promise
January is the heart of the northeast monsoon. Average wave heights drop to 1.6ft (0.5m) and periods remain in the long-period range at 11.0 seconds, which means there is rarely any real energy. Swell direction is largely split between S (35.8%) and SSW (35.5%)-the latter is right in the sweet spot for Varkala's SW exposure, though the S component is less favored. The offshore wind window sits at 33%, with ENE (17.3%), NE (15.4%) and NNE (9.0%) flowing out of the landmass, although a notable amount of SW/WSW wind (9.8%/9.2%) can spoil the surface. With water temperature at 28.2°C and air around 26.2°C, you might be in a wetsuit only for the early-morning session. The long-period but micro swell means this is a groveler's month-break out the high-volume board and hunt for the cleanest corner.
Average Spot conditions at Varkala in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Varkala 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 Varkala for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Varkala 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 Varkala.