Conditions at Turtles in January
January: The Southwest Swell That Never Gets a Clean Face
The northwest monsoon rules January, and while the ocean is far from flat, the west-facing setup at Turtles is stuck fighting onshore winds. Average swell height sits at 1.6m (5.2ft) with a long 12.1s period, and the window is loaded with SSW swell (44.8 percent) plus SW (24.9 percent) and WSW (14.0 percent) energy - all in the favorable directional range. However, the wind is ideal only 16 percent of the time. The prevailing NW (30.8 percent) and WNW (26.2 percent) winds blow straight into the beach, creating lumpy, close-out conditions. When a brief break in the monsoon occurs and offshore easterly flow appears, the surf can be proper; otherwise expect full, stormy 4-6ft (1.2-1.8m) waves with rain. Air temp averages 27.1°C, water 28.9°C, and precipitation is high at 10.84 mm/day. Patience is key - this is a month for vibe, not perfection.
Average Spot conditions at Turtles in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Turtles 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 Turtles for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Turtles 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 Turtles.