Sri Lanka • Statistics for January

January: Cleanest Ground Swell of the Year

The NE monsoon reaches its peak intensity this month, and for an ENE-facing break it doesn't get much better. The wind rose shows a dominant 40.8% of readings out of the west, supported by 12.1% from the west-southwest and 16.9% from the west-northwest. That means offshore flow for this spot, with the wind blowing from land to sea across the east-northeast exposure. The swell data is equally promising: 47.4% of the wave energy aims toward the southwest, and 35.7% toward the south-southwest, which translates into ground swell generated in the NE quadrant and arriving from the optimum NNE/NE window. Average surf height comes in at 5.6ft (1.7m), while the average period of 12.4s slots squarely into the powerful, long-period range that will push well into the reefs. With 63% of the time classified as ideal, this is one of the most reliable surf months of the year. Air temps sit at a warm 27.8°C, water temps at 29.1°C, and the 9.49 mm/day average precipitation usually falls in heavy tropical downpours between sessions - so keep the rain jacket handy, but don't let it stop you from paddling out.